Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Environmental Education Outreach Program

1. Institute for Tribal Environmental ProfessionalsEnvironmental Education Outreach Program August 2010 Environmental Education for Native Learners

2. Presentation Overview • My Program – TEEOP • My Experience • Alaska Native Knowledge Network • Dine’ Educational Philosophy • Environmental Education • Community Based Learning • Academic Standards • Partnerships with Schools • Some EEOP Activities www.nau.edu/eeop

3. Mission Statement “The vision and mission of the EEOP staff is to foster life-changing learning experiences in the application of science, mathematics, technology and engineering to local issues that empower American Indian students of all ages to become self-determinate citizens of their sovereign tribal nation.” www.nau.edu/eeop www.nau.edu/eeop

4. Primary Goals Recruitment and retention of tribal students in science, environmental, engineering, and health careers Effective science literacy programs in tribal schools Tribal Environmental Professionals doing effective environmental education and outreach Better learning environment in all tribal schools (Indoor Air Quality) www.nau.edu/eeop www.nau.edu/eeop

5. My Experience • Education BS Chemistry / MS Chemical Engineer • Military – Chemist and Chemical Engineer • Chemistry Teacher – Environmental Chemistry • Science / Engineering Education K-12 • Teacher Education • Figured out most things the hard way – by experience… Learning later it had a title. www.nau.edu/eeop

6. Alaska Native Knowledge Network • Supported by NSF • Cultural standards • And a lot more… http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/ www.nau.edu/eeop

7. Cultural Standards • Curriculum • Schools • Community • Students • Educators www.nau.edu/eeop

8. Cultural Standards – Curriculum • Uses local knowledge system • Focuses on contemporary life in Native communities • Presents knowledge about “place” • Emphasizes inter-relationship between local and global • All community members potential teachers www.nau.edu/eeop

9. Cultural Standards – Schools • Encourage interaction between students and elders • Support experiential approaches to education • Invite community into school www.nau.edu/eeop

10. Cultural Standards – Community • Community-wide, family-oriented events • Helps with development of curriculum • Assists educators with learning about community • Actively involved with schools www.nau.edu/eeop

11. Cultural Standards – Students • Practice their traditional responsibilities to surrounding environment • Interact with elders • Use local “ways of knowing” • Use local knowledge to solve problems www.nau.edu/eeop

12. Cultural Standards – Educators • Use elders in their teaching • Create opportunities for students to apply their cultural knowledge • Ground all teaching on a local cultural foundation • Become active members of community www.nau.edu/eeop

13. Dine’ Educational Philosophy • Dine’ College (Navajo Nation) • Educational Philosophy • And a lot more… www.dinecollege.edu/about/philosophy.php www.nau.edu/eeop

14. Implementation of Dine’ Philosophy • Harmony with the natural world and the universe (spiritually) • Understanding the nature of the human condition • Life-Long Learning – Learn the skills for self-directed learning • Community involvement • Applications of values – Decision making • Preparation for opportunities in life www.nau.edu/eeop

15. North American Associationfor Environmental Education (NAAEE) • Supported by EPA • Educational Guidelines • And a lot more… www.naaee.org/ www.nau.edu/eeop

16. Standards • Fairness and accuracy • Depth • Skills building • Action orientation • Instructional soundness www.nau.edu/eeop

17. Fairness and Accuracy • Factual accuracy • Balanced of differing viewpoints and theories • Openness to inquiry • Reflection of diversity www.nau.edu/eeop

18. Depth • Awareness • Focus on concepts • Concepts in context • Attention to different scales www.nau.edu/eeop

19. Skills Building • Critical and creative thinking • Applying skills to issues • Action skills www.nau.edu/eeop

20. Action Orientation • Sense of personal stake and responsibility • Self-efficacy (empowerment) www.nau.edu/eeop

21. Instructional Soundness • Learner-centered instruction • Different ways of learning • Connection to learners' everyday lives • Expanded learning environment • Interdisciplinary • Appropriateness for specific learning settings • Assessment www.nau.edu/eeop

22. Community Based Learning • All Communities and EPA • A Philosophy of Education • And a lot more… www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/nre/pdfs/discussion_paper.pdf www.nau.edu/eeop

23. Community Based Learning • actively apply concepts and information, skills or attitudes to local situations. • learners become pro-active problem solvers rather than problem study-ers. • communication which is the examination of differing opinions and potentially conflicting viewpoints www.nau.edu/eeop

24. Community Based Learning • includes community-based study and action • encourages intergenerational contact • provides a context for this learning • community members as resources and partners • combines real experience with classroom learning • promotes citizenship • helps schools and communities work together www.nau.edu/eeop

25. Academic Standards • National and State Educational Standards • Emphasis on Reading, Writing, and Math • Accountability to test scores www.nau.edu/eeop

26. Partnerships with Schools • What are the needs and goals of the school? • Connecting community and school. • Resources for the schools. www.nau.edu/eeop

27. (Not currently funded) Provided materials to teachers Partnership with tribal EPA office Composting and Vermiculture Protective Circle www.nau.edu/eeop

28. 3-D Groundwater Models Greater visual understanding Groundwater Protection www.nau.edu/eeop

29. The science of trash Hands-On Science www.nau.edu/eeop

30. Cattle and Sheep eat plastic bags No nutritional value Block sheep intestines Plastic Bags www.nau.edu/eeop

31. Mansel A. Nelson Senior Program Coordinator Environmental Education Outreach Program (EEOP) Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Northern Arizona University (NAU) http://www.nau.edu/eeop/ mansel.nelson@nau.edu Voice 928 523 1275 FAX 928 523 1280 PO Box 5768, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 www.nau.edu/eeop