E  N  V  I  S  I  O  N

An Environmental Science Institute for Teachers
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


The following is a list of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about the program. 
If you still have questions concerning the program, please contact us at our contact page. 
Is ENVISION holding any more workshops at this point?

We are no longer holding any workshops. However, please feel free to contact us for information about professional development in environmental science or visit our website to obtain additional information about our program, past participants, lesson plans and much more!

Will the program pay for my travel and meals?  Travel support ($100/round trip) meal expenses ($18/day while on site) will be covered by the program for Level I participants attending the Pre-Institute, Summer, and Follow-Up Workshops.

Will I be required to stay overnight at Purdue?
Yes, however, participants that live in the Lafayette area will not be required to stay overnight.  The program is a residential program; the grant will cover your lodging expenses.  You will have to spend some evenings working on course projects and requirements,therefore, lodging at Purdue makes completion of the activities and assignments more manageable.

What is geoenvironmental science research? 
Geoenvironmental science research is the branch of Earth (geo) Science that deals with near-surface and environmental issues.  It is an interdisciplinary science because it is comprised of aspects of geology, geography, math, biology, physics, and chemistry.  It also involves considering the historical, social, and economic aspects of environmental issues (social science).  Thus, geoenvironmental science is an interdisciplinary approach to studying and investigating the issues that surround the way people use, change, and are influenced by the Earth's environment. 

What are my responsibilities? What must I do to successfully complete the program? 
There are several tasks you are responsible for in order to successfully complete the program and receive your stipend.  Over the length of your participation: 
 
  1. attend and participate in scheduled workshops, 
  2. complete pre-summer institute surveys and curricular review, 
  3. work collaboratively on an inquiry-based field study task, preparing a brief research proposal and final presentation on the   project, 
  4. prepare a curricular plan for engaging your students in an inquiry and issues based science research project within your area, 
  5. implement that curricular plan with your students, engaging them in an inquiry and issues based research project, 
  6. document and report on your students' project(s), 
  7. participate in state and NSTA convention presentation, 
  8. complete all surveys, assessments, and assignments, and
  9. prepare case studies/learning episodes based on your classroom. 

What is a leadership team? 
Leadership teams consist of at least two teachers with one teacher at each level of participation:
 
  • Level I participants will attend all project activities and will lead a local staff-development program in their school district.  Level I participants travel to the Purdue campus in the spring and summer for ENVISION training.  They will work with Level II participants in the local adoption of ENVISION concepts and approaches.
  • Level II participants, trained by their Level I teammates, will attend project activities conducted at the regional and local school site, will implement the ENVISION concepts and approaches, and will assist Level I teachers with staff development.
 

What is the nature of the instruction? Will I be sitting in on lectures?
No. The program will actively engage you in learning about designing and conducting environmental science research.  Our instructional plan is designed to model effective pedagogy for teaching about geoenvironmental science research and issues. Most of the instruction will take place in the field.  You will also learn about and use computer technology as a tool for obtaining information (WWW), analyzing data (simple spreadsheets), and preparing presentations (Power Point). Numerous guest speakers will be involved in the program, presenting information on environmental concepts and issues. 

How will this program contribute to my classroom instruction? How will I benefit from participating in this program? 
Because our instructional plan models effective pedagogy for teaching about geoenvironmental science research and issues, you will enhance your classroom pedagogy for teaching these concepts; that is, you will learn how to integrate geoenvironmental science research into your classroom. 
  • You will learn pedagogical techniques for effectively teaching about environmental issues. 
  • You will also learn about and develop alternative assessment tasks for evaluating students learning, thereby enhancing the way you assess students. 
  • Finally, you will conduct a curricular review and develop a curricular integration plan for teaching geoenvironmental science research, thus enhancing your curriculum and developing a national standards-based program (National Science Education Standards and AAAS Benchmarks). 

Why is it important that I learn about and teach my students about environmental science research and issues?
There are several answers or reasons, but perhaps the two most important are: 

First, an environmentally informed and literate citizenry is essential if the complex environmental issues facing us today and in the future are to be understood and addressed in a logical manner, thus it is important for adults (teachers) and children to learn about and understand local geoenvironmental research and issues. Although this program will not inform you about all environmental issues, it will provide you and your students the necessary lifelong learning skills for investigating and understanding geoenvironmental research and issues. 

Second, integrating geoenvironmental science research and issues into your classroom engages students in a multidisciplinary and "real world" science learning experience. Learning and doing science becomes relevant to the student. The research shows that, in general, students prefer learning about environmental science topics and issues compared to other science disciplines. Thus, by integrating geoenvironmental science research and issues into your classroom you are building on students' interests. 


How do I register for the graduate geoscience and education courses, and will I receive a grade for the courses?
Level I participants will automatically be enrolled for a total of 6 credit hours (three credits of Curriculum & Instruction and three credits of Earth & Atmospheric Science).  Four of the credit hours are received during the Summer semester and the remaining two are received during the Spring semester. Level II participants are eligible for two credit hours received during the Spring semester.  Participants will receive letter grades that reflect their involvement, participation, and attendance in the program; their classroom implementation of program requirements; and the quality of their completed work. 

What will I have to do in my classroom?
You will have to: 
  1. teach the curricular plan you develop for teaching students about geoenvironmental research and issues, integrating ENVISION  ideas and techniques into your curriculum,
  2. involve your students in designing and conducting a geoenvironmental research project within your schools' watershed, urban or rural environment, 
  3. have students prepare a means for sharing their research and findings,
  4. develop and use inquiry, issues, computer-based teaching methods, and
  5. develop and use alternative assessment techniques.

What do I need to know? What are the prerequisites? 
There are no prerequisites or specific knowledge requirements. You simply need to be interested in and enthusiastic about teaching your students about environmental research and issues and be willing to implement ENVISION ideas and techniques into your classroom. 

Is there any special equipment that I need in order to participate?
Aside from access to the World Wide Web, no special equipment is needed to participate; however, special equipment will be necessary to implement project ideas and techniques. This is why the program requires that your school corporation commit $400 per teacher toward purchasing materials and equipment for your students to use in conducting their geoenvironmental research projects.