Virtual 4-Week Course. Registration Required – NOTE: Only course Webinars/Open Discussions are listed on the chapter calendar. This is an asynchronous course that requires additional readings, informal discussions, and project work. Please read below and visit the course web page for all the details.
E-STEM Education online course offered by Cornell University Civic Ecology Lab that runs from October 23 to November 19, 2023 (4 weeks).
E-STEM Education is designed for teachers and nonformal educators who want to help youth become scientifically literate, environmental citizens. Teachers will learn how to integrate environmental education into STEM classes such as biology and earth science, and non-formal educators will learn how to make science part of nature and environmental education programs. You will also learn about inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, and other active learning pedagogies, and apply what you learn to develop your own E-STEM lesson plans.
Teachers, educational professionals, volunteers, parents, university students, and environmentally-concerned citizens from any country.
Understand the connection between environmental education and science education.
Learn about different outcomes of E-STEM education.
Explore different learning approaches including problem-based, inquiry-based, project-based, and place-based learning.
Develop an E-STEM lesson plan for their classes, families or communities.
Participate actively in a global online community of E-STEM educators.
Week 1: Introduction
Environmental education
Science education
Sustainability education
Week 2: E-STEM outcomes
Systems thinking
Critical thinking
Research skills
Environmental behavior
Week 3: Learning approaches
Problem-based learning
Project-based learning
Inquiry-based learning
Assessment
Week 4: E-STEM connections and lessons
Connecting across disciplines
Partnerships, teamwork
Communities, and real-life issues
Lesson planning
After Week 4, course participants will have two weeks to finish and submit a 1-page E-STEM lesson plan, which is the final project in this course
Workload
Total workload is 25 hours, which will be reflected on your certificate. On average, participants work on this course about 5 hours per week. The course includes four weeks of instruction, and two weeks to submit the final project (a one-page lesson plan). Weekly assignments include lectures, readings, and discussion questions. Participants are required to participate in a minimum of one course webinar in person or by watching one recorded webinar. Required course project is creating a one-page E-STEM lesson plan.
Learning approach
The course is based on two principles: (1) Learning is social: participants learn by discussing ideas and sharing resources; (2) Learning should lead to action: participants will apply course content to develop and implement an E-STEM lesson plan with their classrooms, organizations, families, or communities.
Technology
We will use a learning management system (edX Edge) for readings, video lectures, and discussion. We will also use Facebook, WhatsApp, and WeChat for optional informal discussions and sharing among participants. The course is asynchronous, and a few optional live meetings will be recorded an posted on edX Edge.
Log in VMS under AT: Skills Enhancement Courses