Better Environmental Education Teaching, Learning, Expertise and Sharing (BEETLES)

Because residential environmental education (EE) programs provide highly memorable, immersive learning experiences for large numbers of students, they provide a tremendous opportunity for improving student understanding about the natural world. These programs are often staffed by young, enthusiastic teacher/naturalists, who have widely varying levels of educational background in science and teaching, and who can benefit from high quality professional development. Lawrence Hall of Science has been successful in translating current research about teaching and learning into practical materials and professional development support for educators. The BEETLES project will create and provide a series of professional development modules and videos for EE program leaders to use in their programs. These modules can be combined in a variety of ways to address the unique needs of different programs. The project will also gather, refine, and develop effective activities and valuable program resources from across the field and distribute them free of charge via a website.

BEETLES will begin working with a few Bay Area residential outdoor education programs, expand to include programs throughout California, and eventually will be disseminated nationally. The goal is to infuse residential outdoor education programs nationally with current research-based ways of thinking about science teaching and learning, and to provide them with useful tools to better implement in their programs.

Instructional materials for conducting EE programs

• Trail activities, including science background information, common misconceptions, easy to follow procedures, and suggested questions and discussion starters.
• Model trail hikes organized around commonly taught environmental themes, each comprised of several “trail activities” that demonstrate both conceptual and pedagogical coherence reflecting current research in science teaching and learning.
• Large group “evening” activities, based on environmental themes, with emphasis on issues, personal engagement and responsibility.
• Concept maps illustrating a variety of common outdoor education science topics, such as ecosystems.
• Before and after activities for classroom teachers to connect to outdoor experiences and curriculum.
• Short how-to videos for demonstrating the use of trail activities.
• Supporting classroom lessons/activities for use in schools before and after program.
• Online repository to share trail activities on a larger scale.

Professional Development and Evaluation Resources

• Eight 2-hour professional development modules, including exemplars relevant to residential outdoor science programs. Potential topics include:
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Constructing Understanding
  • Questioning Strategies
  • Promoting Discussion
  • The Nature of Science
  • Making Observations
  • Engaging Students in the Natural World
  • Gathering Evidence and Constructing Explanations
  • Assessing for Learning
  • Including All Students
• How-to videos for program leaders on how to facilitate adult learning activities from the modules
• Observation tools for evaluating teaching practices.

How you can participate

• Spring 2012: Observations of 5-7 San Francisco Bay Area residential outdoor education programs
• Fall 2012: Pilot testing of Professional Development modules in Bay Area programs
• Summer 2013: Five-day California Leadership Institute for program leaders from 12 participating programs for sharing of expertise and best program activities, and professional development
• 2013: Field testing of professional development modules in California programs
• Summer 2014: Five-day National Leadership Institute
• 2014: Launch of program website with how-to videos and other resources

Through working closely with dedicated leaders of residential environmental education programs, we will gain insights into the needs and contextual factors prominent in these programs. We will use these insights to develop resources to better support the content of their programs and the training of their staff.

To learn more about the program, and how you can get involved in program observations, piloting the professional development modules in your program, or attending the 2013 California Leadership Institute:

Contact:
Emily Arnold, Program Manager
510-642-5008