| Session |
Presenter |
Description |
| EE & Distance Learning |
Carol Birtzer
Bell Museum of Natural History |
Learn about Bell Museum’s distance learning programs, Bell LIVE! and the JASON Project. These programs utilize satellite and microwave technology, the internet, and interactive television to bring students along on fantastic scientific field expeditions from Minnesota to Mars – without ever leaving Earth’s atmosphere! |
| Wolves, Frogs & the Internet |
Amy Kay Kerber, International Wolf Center and Tony P. Murphy, Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education |
Web-based Integrated Science Environment (WISE) is a free on-line environmental science curriculum for students in grades 4-12, supported by University of California Berkeley. This session will focus on two Minnesota specific curriculums: deformed frogs and wolf management. A web browser is all you need to use this program in your educational setting. |
| Rivers of Life |
Peggy Knapp, Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education |
The online Rivers of Life program gives you the tools, projects and resources you need to help your students understand their watershed. Rivers inspire us, transport us, and nourish us. Find out how you can use rivers in your classroom. |
| Tracking the Past & Present |
Pat Rummenie, Hennepin Parks Eastman Nature Center, and Rod Kuehn, Prairie Tracks |
When is peak warbler migration? How much rainfall did we get for the last 5 Mays?Using your notes, Tracker answers this and other questions. Observations can be shared via email. Tracker also contains thousands of original photos for preparing slide shows, quizzes, bulletin board displays and trail guides. Adds depth, clarity and convenience to classroom discussions of botany, tree leaves, tree anatomy, clouds and other topics. |
| Gray Wolves, Gray Matter |
Andrea Lorek Strauss, International Wolf Center |
Learn how the International Wolf Center is providing important new resources for educators on a complex environmental issue: wolf management. We combine technology with classroom activities to help students in grades 6-12 grapple with the social and biological issues involved in creating solutions to a complex problem. Try activities, look at new resources, and gain a broader understanding of this issue. |
| Educating the Whole Person |
Steven Dahlberg, Concordia College, Moorhead |
Have you noticed how many “unsuccessful” students excel at artistic tasks? Would you like to engage them in ways that also benefit their classmates? This workshop presents ways to balance our focus on analysis, logic, and language with the use of synthesis, metaphor, and visual imagery. |
| The State of Environmental Education in Minnesota |
Jeff Ledermann, Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance & Rep. from Environmental Ed. Advisory Board |
Come hear about the current state of EE activity and planning in Minnesota. The session will include a review of the GreenPrint, Minnesota’s State Plan for EE, and the latest plan for it’s implementation and coordination of Minnesota EE programs. |
| Report Card on MN Citizens' Environmental Knowledge |
Tony Murphy, Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education |
Ever wonder how the environmental literacy levels of Minnesotans compare to national levels? This presentation documents The Report Card on Minnesota Citizens’ Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior, coordinated by Hamline University, Wilder Research Center and funded by the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. |
| At the Edge of Professional Competencies |
Tony Murphy, MAEE &
Nikki Schneider, MAEE |
The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has drafted a set of competencies for environmental educators. MAEE has begun a similar process for this state involving various EE stakeholders. Join this session and give us feedback on the process so far. |
| Mercury in the Environment |
Charlene Crocker and Dan Daly, Energy and Environmental Research Center |
Test your mercury knowledge. Learn about ongoing research on the sources and effects of mercury in our environment. This primer describes what and where mercury is, whether we should be concerned, and what we can do about it. |
| Waste Minimization Projects in a Community College Setting |
Theresa Hornstein and Deanne Roquet, Lake Superior College |
Lake Superior College’s grant from the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance for waste minimization involves all facets of the College community in implementing recycling, original student research projects, and construction of a prototype vermicomposting greenhouse by students. |
Eyes On Wildlife:
Authentic Research Opportunities for 7th-12th Grade Students |
Becky Rennicke, Perham High School and George R. Davis, Minnesota State University Moorhead Regional Science Center |
Eyes on wildlife is focused on providing authentic research opportunities to students via continued partnering with organizations such as the Minnesota DNR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey and Minnesota State University, Moorhead. See how students and teachers work side by side research biologists in the field, tracking radio and satellite collared bitterns, wolves, deer and bear. |
Red River Basin Watershed
Educators Initiative |
Ted May, Red River Center for Watershed Education |
This session will introduce the Red River Watershed Education program, which uses the watershed as an integrating learning context. We will discuss design features/challenges in this two-state, two-nation collaborative venture, and explore critical dimensions of the wide-ranging, basin-wide project. |
Using the Local Watershed to
Meet the Standards |
Kathy Magnusson, Lake of the Woods School District |
Learn how the Lake of the Woods School is using the local wateshed to address middle school and high school standards and investigate local history, environmental and social issues and science. |
From the Edge of the Landfill
to Your Classroom |
Barb Nesheim and Suzy Mellem, Minnesota Materials Exchange Alliance |
The Minnesota Materials Exchange, a free service, can help you find no-cost items such as art materials, office supplies and furniture donated by Minnesota companies. A hands-on activity will open your imagination to the possibilities of reuse. |
| Ice Breakers - Something New? |
Su Beran, Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance |
Learn and share new ice breakers to move people from being strangers to becoming a motivated group ready to work together and learn. Need something mid talk? Try an ice breaker for motivation. Ice breakers are not just for openings! |
| A Constructivist Approach to EE |
Judy Kuechle, University of Minnesota, Morris |
Students create an understanding of environmental concepts by building on prior knowledge and consideration of feelings from previous experiences. Teachers assist students to build a more complete understanding of the environment through guided discovery, inquiry, and active involvement in learning. |
Piaget Made Simple:
Child Development for
Environmental Educators |
Marcie Oltman, Minnesota Children’s Museum |
Find out what is going on in the hearts, minds and bodies of very young children and how you can use this information to plan great early childhood EE programs. |
| Demonstration of Hands-on Water Education for Red River Valley Schools |
Daniel Daly, Energy and Environmental Research Center, Wayne Goeken, Red River Valley Watch Program and Tom Williams, Fargo-Moorhead River Keepers. |
Participants will experience hands-on activities that can help students and citizens to think critically about water-related issues in their local environment and learn about government-university-community environmental education partnerships that are working to bring these projects to communities and schools in the Red River watershed. |
White Earth Reservation
Science & Math Summer Program |
Deborah Zak, University of Minnesota Extension Service |
Connecting American Indian youth to cultural traditions and natural resources of the White Earth Reservation while improving academic performance in math and science is the basis of this program. Tribal elders, leaders, Extension and Reservation natural resource managers cooperated to design and deliver a six-week summer program that was offered in 1999, 2000 and will be offered in 2001. |
Forget Reality Shows!
Real World, Real Kids! |
Mara Coyle, Farnsworth Elementary School and Sage Passi, EcoEducation |
Learn how youth, schools, elders and partners can investigate environmental issues in your community through skill-building and teamwork. Conduct a “Mini-Investigation”, explore “Making the Contacts,” share stories and vision potentials partnerships to increase the impact of your environmental projects. |
| Natural Creativity |
Mark Granlund, Como Zoo and Conservatory |
A look at the role of art as a creative tool for discovering nature. Presentation will look at the appeal to the senses by art and nature, a look at environment oriented art projects and a hands-on ephemeral art activity. |
| Facilitation Nuts & Bolts |
Denise Stromme, Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance |
Contrary to popular belief, you are not born a facilitator. Granted there are certain characteristics that make a person a good facilitator, but they are learned, and even practiced. This session will introduce you to the characteristics, tasks, and skills necessary to be an effective facilitator. If that’s not enough, a few basic group processes will also be passed along for you to take and try. |
| Roots & Shoots: Planting the Seeds for Action |
Laurie Kmen, Great Lakes Roots & Shoots Coordinator |
Roots & Shoots is the environmental and humanitarian program created by Dr. Jane Goodall. Participants will gain knowledge of the program, try hands-on activities, and find out how Roots & Shoots has been integrated into existing programs and projects. |
The SE Asian EE Program -
A Model for Serving Minority Groups |
Kao Thao, Josee Cung and Khoi Nguyen, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Parks Division |
Many environmental issues have profound impacts in people’s lives, and yet in some minority communities, they seem elitist and irrelevant. The DNR Southeast Asian Environmental Education Program focuses on removing cultural and language barriers experienced by the state’s largest minority, and providing opportunities for life-long learning in environmental protection and stewardship. |
| Join the Drive to a Cleaner Environment Through Alternative Transportation Fuels! |
Dan Daly, Red River Valley Clean Cities Coalition |
Participants will learn about environmental issues related to transportation fuels, regional and local projects addressing these issues by promoting alternatives to conventional transportation fuels, educational opportunities related to those efforts, and guides and curricula available to support educational activities. |
Connecting Science & Society
Through Food & Fiber |
Vernon B. Cardwell, University of Minnesota Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics and Alan R. Ek, University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources |
Sustainable human systems are dependent upon global natural resources. The sustainability and productivity of ecosystems, in our large and complex society, is also dependent upon human activity. Sustainability and productivity don’t “just happen.” We can shape sustainability in significant ways. Doing so is an imperative. Our natural resources can be managed for both the benefit of human needs and the needs of nature. Environmental science education must include production, consumption and protection of our natural resource base. |
| Project WILD's Preschool Curriculum |
Jan Welsh, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division |
Wishing you had more EE resources and ideas to offer early childhood teachers in your area? I will demonstrate several of the activities from the new Minnesota Project WILD Early Childhood Activity Guide. Free guides, make n’ take samples (and chocolate) for all that attend. |
| Conserve Water: A New Project WET Guide |
April Rust, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Waters Division |
Project WET National released its new curriculum guide, Conserve Water. Aimed at middle and high school educators, this guide uses activities and case studies to focus on water conservation issues. Join us for a hands-on introduction to the program. |
| Project Learning Tree - High School Modules Training |
Justin Plathe & Amy Kay Kerber, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division |
You all know Project Learning Tree has a primary guide, but are you familiar with PLT’s secondary modules? This presentation will certify you to teach PLT’s five high school modules: Forest Ecology, Focus on Forests, Municipal Solid Waste, Risk, and Intro Book. Modules will be available for sale ($5 each or $20 for a set of five). |
| EE Materials Guidelines for Excellence |
Su Beran, Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance |
An introduction to demonstrate how to use the Guidelines in your program. The Guidelines are a set of recommendations produced by the North American Association for Environmental Education to evaluate, develop and select environmental education materials. |
