ENVISION is an Environmental Science Institute for Middle Level Teachers, funded by the National Science Foundation.  The overall goal of ENVISION is to help teachers integrate hands-on local environmental research into their teaching. ENVISION utilizes modules to prepare leadership teams that are experienced in team-based research and knowledgeable of:

• environmental science concepts and issues,
• inquiry skills for investigating environmental issues,
• appropriate curricular, pedagogical, and assessment practices for teaching science within studies of local environmental issues, and
• strategies to develop educational partnerships with local government, industry, and business.

Level I participants will attend all project activities and will lead a local staff-development program in their school district.  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 actively implement ENVISION concepts and approaches, and will assist Level I teachers with staff-development.

ENVISION is a multidisciplinary approach to the development of scientific concepts and inquiry skills focusing on:

• Water and Watersheds:  science concepts and issues surrounding water, streams, and wetlands.
• Urban and Built Environments:  environmental investigations of buildings, cities, and suburbs.
• Rural Environments:   effects of human activities and agricultural practices on rural environments.