University of FloridaUF/IFAS

Goal II: Focus Area 3

Environmental Education


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Situation Statement

Many environmental challenges are exacerbated by human activity. Extension programs have the capacity to raise awareness, provide information, build skills, demonstrate alternatives, and change behaviors that will enhance the quality and quantity of Florida's natural resources. Enhancing the environmental educators' skills, resources, and programs are the mechanism for enhancing the effectiveness of these Extension programs.

Rationale

Environmental education (EE) is a popular and acceptable tool for addressing environmental challenges. Across the nation, parents consistently express positive attitudes toward EE programs for their children (Roper/Gallup NEETF polls). Adults, too, benefit from EE programs that are designed to provide information about resource conservation strategies, land use management opportunities, and decision-making tools. Effective programs (media campaigns, workshops, presentations, field activities, youth materials, etc.) require use of appropriate, research-based teaching strategies and technologies. Integrating EE into the State's Extension framework will help EE program providers across the state enhance their ability to deliver EE programs. In the first 4 years, our team's activities will enhance educator effectiveness with program strategies (e.g., service learning, issue investigation) and skill development (e.g., media delivery, critical thinking).

Target Audiences/Primary Audiences

  • Providers of youth and adult based EE programs
    • Extension agents
    • Teachers
    • Nonformal educators
    • Media
    • Partnering agencies and organizations

Topics to be Covered/Subjects to be Taught

  • Engaging the audience
    • service learning
    • interactive projects
    • interactive presentations
    • meaningful evaluation
  • Supporting Education Reform in Florida
    • SSS and FCAT correlations to extension programs
    • interdisciplinary programs
  • Supporting community leaders
    • providing research-based information
    • conducting issue-based education programs
    • conflict resolution
    • building partnerships
    • media communication skills

Outcomes

  • Extension agents will use Best Practices for designing and delivering EE programs
  • Extension volunteers will support environmental education programs
  • Media outlets will increase coverage of local environmental topics and issues
  • Media will receive well-conceived and useful news releases on environmental topics and issues
  • Participants will appreciate the complexity and intricacies of Florida's environment
  • Participants will be able and motivated to engage in community environmental issues
  • Participants will enhance their community through environmental service projects
  • Participants will have research-based information on environmental issues
  • Participants will understand multiple perspectives on environmental issues
  • Participants will use critical thinking skills in environmental problem solving
  • Participants will use technology-based programs to promote environmental education
  • Partnering agencies and organizations will use Extension materials and programs
  • Teachers will use environmental education programs to meet SSS and help prepare youth for FCAT

Impacts

  • Florida citizens are better prepared to understand and engage in environmental problem solving

If the information on this page is out-of-date, misspelled, or otherwise incorrect, please contact Ryan Mills.