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Environmental Education, 21 st Century Style: Preparing Students for Green Jobs

Environmental Education, 21 st Century Style: Preparing Students for Green Jobs. A Green Pathway to CTE and 21 st Century Learning. A Look at Green Jobs in Kansas.

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Environmental Education, 21 st Century Style: Preparing Students for Green Jobs

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  1. Environmental Education, 21st Century Style: Preparing Students for Green Jobs A Green Pathway to CTE and 21st Century Learning

  2. A Look at Green Jobs in Kansas • In May 2010, the Kansas Department of Labor released the first-ever Kansas Green Jobs Report, a survey of 6,000 Kansas employers. • Employers were asked to estimate how many employees they would be hiring to perform “green” jobs. • http://www.dol.ks.gov/LMIS/doc/KansasGreenJobsReport.pdf

  3. What is a “Green Job?” • Support Green Jobs assist those performing Primary Green Jobs: • Teaching courses and/or training programs related to green knowledge or skills • Providing financial, legal, personnel, or other products/services to companies engaging in green activities • Selling solar panels, low-flush toilets, etc. • Primary Green Jobs produce a green product or provide a green service: • Conducting research to develop wind turbines or solar panels • Increase green practices and activities within a company • Manufacture and/or install solar panels, energy efficient windows, etc.

  4. Educational Requirements ofGreen Jobs in Kansas • 58.6 percent of employers are using on-the-job training to prepare workers for green jobs • The most common green skills and knowledge needed by employers is related to waste minimization, energy conservation, and environmental policies/regulations • 41.5 percent required only a high school diploma or GED • 28 percent had no educational requirement • Just 10.5 percent required a bachelor’s degree

  5. Connecting students to the real world Career and Technical Education • Creating interest in fields with growing demand for workers, such as green jobs

  6. How can Environmental Education Help Prepare Students for Green Jobs? • EE can serve as a real world entry point for students to discover an interest in the environment • EE can provide a basic understanding of how ecosystems work and how human actions affect the environment • EE can introduce students to environmental issues such as energy production and use, and help them learn the skills needed to solve challenges

  7. EE can set students up for success in Green Jobs through 21st Century Learning Skills

  8. EE’s learning approach models processes for problem-solving and critical thinking • Consensus building • Inquiry-driven • Connection to service learning • Involving the community • Project-based • Working in teams • Presenting your case, ie town hall meetings • Representing viewpoints different than your own

  9. Kansas Green Schools of Excellence Program • School projects connect students to “real world” experiences • Explore ways to make schools more environmentally friendly (collecting and analyzing assessment data) • Make presentations, communicate ideas through video and social media • Project planning, implementation, and management • Raise funds, learn about processes for project approval (school board meetings)

  10. Program Goals: • Provide resources and ideas for engaging students in Green Schools activities • Encourage schools to take their green school efforts to the next level • Create a mechanism for measuring and reporting impact of Kansas Green Schools • Most importantly, to recognize and celebrate all the great things Kansas Green Schools are doing!

  11. Steps Toward Becoming a Kansas Green School of Excellence • Join the Kansas Green Schools Network • Establish a KGS Green Team at Your School • Investigate your school and community with students • Formulate an action plan • Communicate • Celebrate • Apply for Recognition

  12. Green Team Roles and Responsibilities • To ensure that all students and the entire school community have an opportunity to be involved in the investigation and decision-making process • To inform and engage the rest of the school and the local community • To take the lead in determining how best to carry out the KGS Investigations • To take the lead in creating the Action Plan LEADERSHIP

  13. Who Should Be On Our Green Team? IDEALLY… • Students from every grade in your school • Administrative staff • Teachers • Non-teaching staff such as janitors, office administrators, facilities managers, and lunch room staff • Parents or grandparents • Representatives from the local community  • Resource professionals from local environmental or conservation organizations May use existing groups like student councils, afterschool clubs, etc…

  14. Other Considerations for Green Teams… • How many people should be on your green team? • How often should the green team meet? • Succession plan? • Record keeping?

  15. Green School Investigations • Energy: Lighting, appliances, HVAC, etc. • Water: Water use, conservation, outdoor water use, rain gardens, storm drains (water quality) • Waste: Waste, recycling, composting, reuse • Healthy School Environment: Indoor air quality, transportation, chemical use on school grounds, green labs, etc. (nutrition and fitness?) • The Learning Community: outdoor learning, the green hour, schoolyard habitat, natural areas, nature play areas, outdoor classrooms, schools gardens and community and global connections (service learning, community learning, engaging community, community as a classroom (zoos, nature centers, etc.) and community partnerships) including opportunities to explore the previous 4 investigations at the community level.

  16. Investigation Components and Resources • Table of Contents • Introduction to Investigation with Overview of Investigations and Potential Implications • Investigation Objectives/Curricular Connections • Background Information for Teachers and Students • Actual Investigation (Elementary and Middle/HS, classrooms and whole school) • Pictures/illustrations included when useful • Action Plan Template • Resources: Fact Sheets, Web Resources, Literature Connections, Home Connections • Print off Packets for Investigation worksheets

  17. Kansas School Gardens • State-Wide School Garden Survey in 2011 • Garden Gate Website is located within the Kansas Green Schools Website • Step by Step School Garden “How-To’s” for Starting and Sustaining a School Garden • School Garden Curriculum and Activities • Created by Kansas Educators and Gardeners • Virtual Tours

  18. Steps for Becoming a KGS Of Excellence…More Detail • Schools declare their intent (password/login) • A KGS Green Team is established to provide leadership for the school’s efforts • The school Green Team decides which investigations they will explore and devise a strategy for completing both the classroom and school wide investigations • Students and teachers conduct investigations on a classroom and school wide basis, recording data • The school Green Team collects and analyzes the data, communicating investigation findings to school, administrators, parents, community and/or other audiences

  19. Steps for Becoming a KGS Of Excellence, Cont. • The school Green Team devises a strategy for the school to take action that to make improvements based on investigation data while engaging students in education around the investigation topic(s). • The education and project efforts are communicated to students, teachers, administrators, school personnel, parents, community, etc. and accomplishments are celebrated. • The school Green Team documents their efforts and completes an online application to be considered for recognition. • Applications reviewed using rubric, assess for attainment of recognition. Schools meeting criteria outlined in the rubric are awarded the appropriate designation. School is honored with recognition on KGS website and a flag to hang at their school. • Schools maintain their recognition by providing annual reports that outline ongoing efforts and accomplishment.

  20. 3 Levels of Recognition: Silver Globe • Green Team Established (4 meetings/year with minutes with school communication plan) • Professional Development In Environmental Education (minimum 1 educator) • Environmental Education is integrated into some of grade levels and/or content areas of instruction • Two (or more) Investigations Completed with development and implementation of an action plan for one or more environmental improvement area as identified by investigations. • Documented progress and outcomes, celebrate accomplishments and share with school community. • Develop a KGS Pledge for your school.

  21. Gold Globe • Green Team Established (6 meetings/year, minutes with school communication plan) • Professional Development In Environmental Education (minimum 2 educators) • Environmental Education is integrated into all grade levels and/or content areas of instruction • Five Investigations Completed and action plan developed that includes a timeframe for two or more environmental improvement areas as identified by investigations. • Documented progress and outcomes, celebrate accomplishments and share with school community. • Adopt a KGS Pledge for your school.

  22. Green Globe • Green Team Established (8 meetings/year, minutes with school communication plan) • Professional Development In Environmental Education (more than 2 educators) • Environmental Education is integrated into all grade levels and/or content areas of instruction • Five Investigations Completed and action plan developed that includes a timeframe, cost/benefit analysis for three or more environmental improvement areas as identified by investigations. • Documented progress and outcomes, celebrate accomplishments and share with school community. School conducts a day of action to engage community or writes a newspaper article. Site visit by KGS representative. • Adopt a KGS Pledge for your school and posted in prominent location in school.

  23. Olathe South HS Compostable trays and bottle recycling in Olathe South HS Cafeteria

  24. Clifton-Clyde School District • Students from Clifton-Clyde High School during their "Wind Energy Day” • USD 224 elementary students using composting tumblers for lunch waste

  25. Starside Elementary, Desoto • “Mother Nature,” Bob the Ball and students at Starside Elementary Pond • Students digging into the vermicompost they harvested

  26. Have Ideas or Need More Information? • Rachel Wahle • 785-539-7943 • rwahle@kacee.org • Laura Downey • 785-532-3322 • ldowney@kacee.org

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