Essential Elements

The MWEE consists of four essential elements that describe “what students do.” These elements, together with the supporting practices, create a learner-centered framework that emphasizes the role of the student in actively constructing meaning from the learning experiences. Throughout the process, students have time to reflect on how what they are learning and experiencing affects the driving question of their investigations. The essential elements are not meant to be linear. In fact, some elements, such as Synthesis and Conclusions, occur repeatedly throughout the MWEE. The four essential elements are:

  • Issue Definition
  • Outdoor Field Experiences
  • Synthesis and Conclusions
  • Environmental Action Projects

In the pages that follow, we'll explore each of these elements in detail, including learning about some tools and resources that help ensure that MWEEs are implemented thoroughly and thoughtfully to meet the needs of both students and educators.