This paper discusses the use of a strategy called an academic controversy to facilitate critical thinking about, and deeper understanding of, natural resource issues. A format is given for conducting an academic controversy in the classroom along with suggestions for timing of the strategy. Instructors have observed that students stay more focused on the problem being discussed than when the material ... Full description.

This article describes a case in which a needs assessment was conducted by graduate students in the Environmental Education Program Development course at the University of Florida. This assessment served to provide guidance for program improvement to the Crown Region Environmental Education Service Project (RSP), and to provide students with experience in developing tools and designing strategies ... Full description.

Teaching methods that are often recommended to improve the learning environment in college science courses include cooperative learning, adding inquiry-based activities to traditional lectures, and engaging students in projects or investigations. Two questions often surround these efforts: 1) can these methods be used in large classes; and 2) how do we know that they are increasing student learning? ... Full description.

This article discusses the need for environmental education (EE) among diverse (i.e non-white, non-hispanic) urban youth. Major points include the large proportion of these youths who live in urban settings far removed from nature, and three factors that converge to make EE for this group a priority. These are: 1) the greatest opportunities to understand about the environment exist at elementary levels; ... Full description.

Environmental educators in many states are finding that reform efforts are constraining the time they have to prepare and teach new activities. Therefore, they may find it appropriate to develop materials that address environmental education (EE) needs as well as augmenting state reform goals. This study provides an example in which a biodiversity curriculum guide, using the "Linking Florida's Natural ... Full description.

One of the ways in which universities can contribute to environmental awareness is by establishing programs to ensure that all graduates are environmentally literate. This article describes a case in which a module for business students on environmental management at the University of Wales, Swansea was developed to include an element of environmental reviewing. The way in which this is introduced ... Full description.

Traditional evaluation methods have been deemed ineffective for evaluating environmental education (EE) programs. In contrast, ongoing, participatory evaluation involving local stakeholders in problem identification, evaluation design, data collection, analysis, and use of results was found to provide improved and more useful results. This article describes a case in which participatory evaluation ... Full description.

The Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) is a consortium of universities, non-profit organizations, and professional education associations whose efforts are focused on identifying and implementing essential educator training services for delivery of quality and professional environmental education (EE). In this study, capacity building was evaluated at the state level and the ... Full description.

Online Evaluation Resource Library (OERL) is library developed for professionals seeking to design, conduct, document, or review project evaluations. Its resources include instruments, plans, and reports from evaluations that have proven to be sound and representative of current evaluation practices. Also included are alignment tables that contain criteria and a glossary to help users develop their ... Full description.