210 likes | 913 Views
Alabama 4-H Center Environmental Field School Extension of Alabama’s Classrooms. Emily B. Kling, Ed.D. Extension Specialist, 4-H Natural Resources Alabama Cooperative Extension System. To understand the philosophy of the Environmental Field Studies program, one must understand 4-H. 4-H is:
E N D
Alabama 4-H CenterEnvironmental Field SchoolExtension of Alabama’s Classrooms Emily B. Kling, Ed.D. Extension Specialist, 4-H Natural Resources Alabama Cooperative Extension System
To understand the philosophy of the Environmental Field Studies program, one must understand 4-H.
4-H is: • Youth education program of • Cooperative Extension System • Living learning laboratory for “hands • on” projects and activities • More education than • competition • Youth development
4-H teaches youth ages 9-19 how to learn,develop life skills, and explore interests that may lead to career(s) or lifetime activities
4-H Provides These Life Skills • Experiences: • Problem Solving/ • Decision Making • Communicating • Leading/Serving • Managing Self
4-H has an ongoing tradition of applied, hands-on/minds-on experiences that develop the heads, hearts, hands and health of Alabama youth.
4-H teaches youth to: • Think with their heads • Have character in their hearts • Do service with their hands • Livehealthily
Behind every 4-H activity, opportunity, and program and behind every 4-H educator lies an extensive body of knowledge, scholarship and research.
Eight program areas: • Natural Resources and Environmental • Education (NREE) • Plant and Animal Sciences • Science and Technology • Military 4-H Youth Development Programs • 4-H After School Programs • Family and Consumer Sciences • Citizenship, Leadership, and • Communications
4-H NREE teaches youth to consider all aspects of an environmental issue, sift through the emotionalism, and make an informed decision.
4-H NREE teaches “how to think, not what to think.”
The 4-H Center Environmental Field Studies program is the “outdoor classroom” part of the 4-H NREE Program.
Its programs are designed to complement classroom experiences and are correlated to the Alabama Course of Study.
4-H Center naturalists love to work with young people— learning, growing, creating fun, and making friends.
But there’s a lot more to the Environmental Field Studies experience than having fun…
Each lesson is based on science and is designed to be “hands on.”
How People Learn Retention Rate Read……………..………...20% Hear…………..…………...20% See……………..………….30% Hear and See………..……..50% Say………………..……….70% Do………………..………..90%
Experiential Learning Model EXPERIENCE the activity; perform, do it APPLY what was learned to a similar or different situation; practice SHARE the results, reactions, and observations publicly DO APPLY REFLECT PROCESS by discussing, looking at the experience; analyze, reflect GENERALIZEto connect the experience to real-world examples
Teachable Moments • Set your “trap” • Allow youth to do the activity • It’s OK to make mistakes • Always debrief • Reflect & Apply! TM D
What sets the 4-H Center’s Environmental Field Studies program apart from the other EE programs in the state?
Great facilities • Enthusiastic & well-trained staff • Resources & faculty from Auburn • University • Replica of 1850s-era Pioneer Village • The only LEED certified GREEN • classroom building in Alabama • Groundbreaking will be in 2006.