Digital Commons Network^™

Curriculum Development And Analysis To Encourage Positive Environmental Attitudes In High School Students, Matthew Johnston

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project used a qualitative research design to explore the research question, how do students who are participating in a course on ecology and resource conservation, describe their understanding of ecology and conservation? The capstone researcher designed a student centered curriculum that used project based learning and outdoor experiences in an elective science course. A major goal of the course was to engage high school students in environmental education and shift students’ attitude to be more positive toward the environment. To measure students’ attitudes, the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) (Anderson, 2012) survey was completed at the start and end …

2017-2018 Ursinus College Course Catalogue, Office Of The Registrar

Ursinus College Catalogues, 1869-Present

A digital copy of the 2017-2018 Ursinus College Catalog. It contains details of the curriculum, departmental requirements and courses of instruction as well as core requirements such as the Common Intellectual Experience (CIE) and Independent Learning Experience (ILE). Academic policies, special opportunities and scholarships, off-campus programs and graduation requirements are also outlined.

How Can Education Improve The Recycling Behaviors And Attitudes Of Middle School Students, Sara Flanagan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This research project adapted and implemented curriculum into a middle school science classroom to gauge the effect of the curriculum on the students’ behaviors and attitudes. The focus of the curriculum was on waste management and recycling. Students participated in surveys both before and after the curriculum. Their responses were compared to others in the school who did not go through the curriculum. There are not many updated curriculums available however, through this study it was concluded that education can impact the recycling behaviors and attitudes through curriculum in a positive way that makes students connect their actions to the …

An Outdoor Curriculum Based In Phenology And Ecology Promoting The Environmental Stewardship Of Middle School Students, Alyssa R. Polovitz

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Many students are not spending enough time in nature, and therefore may lack a passion and understanding of the environment. The literature defines this problem as the nature-deficit disorder, and it explains a need for outdoor and place-based education. This capstone developed a curriculum to help answer the research question, How can an outdoor curriculum based in phenology and ecology that promotes environmental stewardship in middle school students be developed? This emerged from the educator’s passion for the outdoors and nature and helping students develop a similar love and appreciation for the environment. Results provide a weeklong outdoor study that …

Developing A Garden-Based Curriculum For Middle School Content Enrichment, Dane Warming

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Garden-based education has been around for more than a century. It is one of the many outdoor learning strategies used by modern teachers. Gardens provide an engaging, safe, and interesting place to learn. However, teachers face a number of challenges when teaching in an outdoor setting. In order to decide if those efforts are justified a study of the research relating to outdoor education was conducted. The literature review revealed that outdoor learning offers benefits to student learning, physical and mental health, and overall development. This literature review informed the creation of a cross-content curriculum project. The lessons that make …

Developing A Teacher Guidebook To Increase Outdoor Education In Schools, Patrick Schuette

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

An outdoor education guidebook was developed to help teachers start outdoor education courses, increase student engagement, and develop intrapersonal and interpersonal skills in students. Outdoor education is about much more than learning content information in a classroom; it is the class and teaching mindset which rekindles students’ passion for learning and discovery. Outdoor education best practice consists of place-based learning where students learn physical and mental skills with the outcome of success being directly related to those skills. Outdoor education will look different depending on location because it is influenced by local environmental, students, resources, and culture. The outdoor education …

How Can We Use The Lake Superior Watershed To Connect To Anishinaabe Youth And Inspire Them To Continue As Stewards Of The Land?, Heidi Lynn Ojibway

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Anishinaabe youth have historically experienced difficulty adjusting to mainstream education. Their graduation rates are the lowest in the country (Camera, 2015). By developing curriculum that is culturally relevant and rebuilds connections to the land educators can work towards closing the education gap. The curriculum in this capstone project uses the Lake Superior Watershed, environmental education practices, and American Indian Learner Outcomes to meet state standards. By using culturally relevant materials to connect to Anishinaabe youth it is expected that they will feel invested in the curriculum. They will build stronger community ties which in turn results in stewardship. The curriculum …

Curriculum Minutes 04/17/2017, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Minutes

In these minutes: Global Village Task Force Update; and Spanish Program Review

Environmental Stewardship: Protecting Our Planet’S Future, Barbara Pierce

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was how can Understanding by Design be used to create a curriculum that can be used to teach upper elementary students the basis of environmental stewardship? The motivating factor behind this project was a noticeable lack of outdoor exploration in public elementary schools, combined with limited science instruction in the classroom. Designing the curriculum using and Understanding by Design framework, the unit includes lessons on habitats, food webs, natural resources, and interdependence. Methods of teaching include hands-on and multimedia lessons, and time for free outdoors exploration. The unit culminates in a group presentation …

Student Engagement With Nature When Using Nature Journals And Ipads, Xeng Jasiczek

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone is a collection of lessons to teach nature journals while using iPads in the

elementary classroom from first grade through fifth grade. This curriculum is cross- curricular and includes teaching lessons in art and science, and work on students being

reflective of their work either verbally or written. This curriculum is supported by research done about outdoor learning, the use of modern technology and free play. All these things contribute to a better mental and physical health of children into adulthood. The use of technology in the classroom is changing how teachers teach and how students learn. This …

How Do You Empower At Risk Students To Become Active Citizens About The Environment, Through The Design And Implementation Of An Urban Environmental Science Curriculum Within An Alternative Education Setting?, Stephen N. Szczodroski

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

At-risk students come with a history of failure in school. The mainstream classroom setting has not worked for them in the past; therefore, educators must think outside the box and get students doing as many hands-on, experiential lessons as possible. Generally, these students do not have the opportunity to experience many experiential activities. This new curriculum helped students get outside learning new skills, and lured them away from chalkboard lessons. A major component with the curriculum was coordinating with the local parks and recreational system, to create a program where students are involved in using and maintaining local natural areas …

Student-­Led Farmers Market: Engaging, Real-­World Experience And Nutrition Education That Prepares Students For A Successful Professional Life After High School, Rebecca A. Hennessey

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

School gardens are becoming an increasingly popular tool for environmental education. Learning in a school garden offers many benefits, from first­hand experience in applying information learned in school, to nutrition education, to growing in character. School garden curriculum is readily available for students at the elementary level, but is difficult to find at the high school level. This capstone includes curriculum that is easily adaptable and supports a student­led farmers market program, providing garden and nutrition education to students at the high school level through the context of a fully­functioning farmers market that is completely run by students.

Connecting Environmental Stewardship, Youth Development, And Community Engagement, Through A Student-Centered Pollinator Curriculum, Elizabeth Huerta Ortiz

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this capstone was to find the means to engage inner city youth in outdoor experiences that would help them form a deep connection to nature. The research question that I focused on was: how can national parks, native plant nurseries, and school districts work together to inspire inner city youth to become active stewards of the natural world? The analysis of the literature review guided me to find one possible answer, which is to develop and implement a student-centered pollinator curriculum in partnership with the national parks, native plant nurseries, and school districts. The pollinator curriculum is …

Morris Catalog 2017-19, University Of Minnesota - Morris

UMM Catalog

This catalog covers academic years 2017–18 and 2018–19. The Morris Catalog is in effect for nine years; this catalog is in effect from fall 2017 through the end of summer session 2026.

How Do We Educate Children That Live In A Water Rich Environment About The Need For Water Conservation?, Theresa Marie Vermeersch

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this curriculum development Capstone was to create a unit of lessons to address how we educate children that live in a water rich environment about the need for water conservation. The curriculum contains lessons in a kit that educate children about water cycles, water sheds, water run-off, water pollution, and water conservation. Methods of teaching include hands-on lessons, small and large group activities that incorporate literature. The overall goal is to create curriculum that would foster a sense of water conservation stewardship in students. Included with this curriculum are copies of handouts, assessments, and literature.

Campus Assembly Minutes 12/06/2016, Campus Assembly

Campus Assembly

No abstract provided.

High School Water Quality Curriculum For Rural And Urban Areas, James David Mesik

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this curriculum development Capstone was to create a unit of lessons to address the topic of water quality for high school students in an agricultural class focusing on natural resources. The curriculum contains lessons that tackle issues related to both farmland and nonfarm related water quality issues. Methods of teaching include hands-on lessons, a field trip and a guest speaker. Specific issues are confronted and potential solutions to water quality problems are presented. The overall goal is to create curriculum that would foster a sense of water quality stewardship in students. Included with this curriculum are copies …

Umm Curriculum Program Changes 11/28/2016, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.

Curriculum Minutes 11/23/2016, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Minutes

In these minutes: Catalog program changes in the Division of the Humanities, the Division of Education, and Interdisciplinary Studies

Curriculum Minutes 11/09/2016, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Minutes

In these minutes: Catalog program changes in the Division of Science and Mathematics and the Division of the Social Sciences.

The Relationship Between Agriculture And The Environment, Elise Nicole Volz

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Southern Minnesota is an agricultural hub, and there is a deeply rooted methodology when it comes to the techniques used to plant, grow, and harvest grain crops. These techniques have come under scrutiny as they are being accused of causing harm to the environment. As an alternative to these conventional agricultural techniques, sustainable agriculture provides an agricultural methodology that aims to grow crops in such a way that the environment is harmed a little as possible. This project was designed to determine awareness of sustainable agriculture among a group of students and develop a curriculum that allows students to explore …

2016-2017 Ursinus College Course Catalogue, Office Of The Registrar

Ursinus College Catalogues, 1869-Present

A digital copy of the 2016-2017 Ursinus College Catalog. It contains details of the curriculum, departmental requirements and courses of instruction as well as core requirements such as the Common Intellectual Experience (CIE) and Independent Learning Experience (ILE). Academic policies, special opportunities and scholarships, off-campus programs and graduation requirements are also outlined.

Utilizing The Next Generation Science Standards As A Framework To Create A Climate Change Curriculum, Jenna Totz

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, how can the Next Generation Science Standards be utilized as a framework to create a climate change curriculum? It documents the creation of the middle school climate change curriculum, Next Generation Climate. The curriculum integrates experiential education, argumentation, and modeling all using the most current climate change science. This curriculum was created out of the need for more resources that aligned with the NGSS and to provide educators with the tools to correctly provide climate literacy to their students. The author documents the details of writing the curriculum and uses research literature …

Exploring Schools' Use Of Natural Spaces, M Gilchrist, R Passy, S Waite, R Cook

Plymouth Institute of Education

This chapter focuses on the changing ways in which schools are using natural spaces as part of their pupils’ learning experience. We suggest that learning in natural spaces has undergone something of a renaissance in recent times, and explore the reasons that this might be so. We then examine ways in which schools and other practitioners are using outdoor spaces for play, for non-curricular and for curricular learning. The chapter draws on a range of countries for examples that show how a nation’s cultural ideas about the outdoors can be incorporated into a country’s outdoor learning, and how other ideas …

Curriculum Minutes 03/21/2016, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Minutes

In these minutes: Curriculum Changes in the Humanities, the Social Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Studies; and a Preliminary Discussion of a Major/Minor in Medieval Studies

Curriculum Minutes 02/08/2016, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Minutes

In these minutes: Course Approvals, Request for Gen Ed Designator on Directed Study, Continued General Education Discussion, and Sustainability Leaders of the Future Program: Possible Implications for the Curriculum

Presenting Evolution In Public Schools; Is It Indisputable?, Paul Andrew Erdman

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed is, how do 10 public school teachers present the theory of evolution? The motivation of this capstone was my experience with teachers presenting evolution (all life having evolved from a simple single celled organism) to students as indisputable, and the seemingly lack of discussion about any problems with the theory or unanswered questions. A key influence was an older sibling, a mechanical engineer, who often provides scientific answers for me and provided many resources that challenge the so-called indisputability and possibilities of evolution. This study interviewed 10 public school teachers to identify how they present the …

Integrating Human Culture, Community, And Sense Of Place Into An Existing High School Environmental Studies Curriculum, Kathy Allen Kline

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone addresses challenges faced by a first year high school teacher on an interdisciplinary team integrating social studies into an environmental studies curriculum. After exploring literature in biodiversity, biocultural diversity, and place-based education, the author determines that the existing curriculum can be enhanced to make stronger connections between people and the places already being studied, including the local community. To that end, this paper presents a sub-unit, developed using the Understanding by Design ® model, that seeks to integrate human culture, community, and sense of place into an environmental studies curriculum. The sub-unit includes six weeks of lessons to …

2015-2016 Ursinus College Course Catalogue, Office Of The Registrar

Ursinus College Catalogues, 1869-Present

A digital copy of the 2015-2016 Ursinus College Catalog. It contains details of the curriculum, departmental requirements and courses of instruction as well as core requirements such as the Common Intellectual Experience (CIE) and Independent Learning Experience (ILE). Academic policies, special opportunities and graduation requirements are also outlined.

Umm Curriculum Program Changes 04/15/15, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.