Environmental Education Training Focuses on Districts
Exactly what should Pennsylvania school students know
about the environment, and how can conservation districts help them
learn it?
These were the main topics addressed by Dr. Patricia Vathis, Pennsylvania
Department of Education (PDE) Environment and Ecology Curriculum and
Assessment Advisor, during a recent workshop for conservation district
staff. Forty-seven district representatives attended the March 22
meeting, hosted in State College by the PACD.
"Pennsylvania's academic standards define what students should
know about various subjects and be able to do at certain grade levels,"
Vathis explained. The standards for Environment and Ecology include
nine categories, each of which contains specific information about
what students should learn and what will be measured through statewide
testing beginning in 2007-08, she said.
Many Pennsylvania school districts are in the process of realigning
their curriculum to insure it addresses the state standards. Vathis
said conservation districts can play an important role in the re-alignment
process by offering programs that help teachers fill gaps in the conservation
education curriculum.
For example, a recent survey showed that of the environment and ecology
standards' nine categories, four are taught most often in Pennsylvania
schools: renewable and non-renewable resources; environmental health;
ecosystems and their interaction; and threatened, endangered and extinct
species. The remaining five categories represent areas conservation
districts could help address. These "least taught" categories
include: watersheds and wetlands; agriculture and society; Integrated
Pest Management; humans and the environment; and environmental laws
and regulations.
"I thought the workshop was excellent and I especially appreciated
Dr. Vathis' overview of what districts can do to support school efforts,"
said Paula Ledney, environmental education coordinator at Somerset
County Conservation District. Having this information will help the
conservation district to focus its programs on local needs and use
its resources more efficiently, Ledney said."
Vathis also discussed the districts' role in providing accredited
training for teachers. Many district staff expressed interest in obtaining
facilitator training in national education projects such as "Food
Land & People," "WET," and "Learning Tree."
Vathis explained that PACD and PDE are working to develop a mentoring
program whereby trained conservation district facilitators can support
those seeking to obtain facilitator training status.
Vathis provided a roomful of sample education materials for participants
to peruse. She also highlighted national and state education program
packets available through PDE and other state agencies.
To discuss the potential role of conservation districts in helping
teachers address the standards, contact Patti Vathis at pvathis@state.pa.us
or PACD's Director of Education, Kathleen Banski at kathleen-banski@pacd.org.
To review the environment and ecology standards, visit the PDE website
at http://www.pde.state.pa.us/env_eco
Dates to Remember:
May 23-25, 2005
Agricultural Conservation Technical
Training Summer 2005 Agronomy Supplemental Training
State College, PA
May 26, 2005
Agricultural Conservation Technical
Training Summer 2005 Agronomy One Day Supplemental Training
State College, PA
July 24-27, 2005
PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference
Avalon Hotel, Erie, PA
October 4-6, 2005
Watershed Specialist Annual Statewide
Meeting
The Atherton Hotel, State College, PA
January 18-20, 2006
PACD Winter Meeting
Ramada Inn, State College, PA
July 23-27, 2006
NACD Northeast Region Meeting
and
PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference
The Penn Stater, State College, PA
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