Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation
NRES 410/610: Applied EE Program Evaluation:
is available for 3 graduate or undergraduate level credits through
UWSP. It is also available as a non-credit workshop for those not
seeking college credit.
The "Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation (AEEPE)"
online course was designed to help environmental educators and
natural resource professionals evaluate their education programs.
The course provides participants with an overview of evaluation and
an opportunity to practice skills designing and using evaluation
tools for environmental education and outreach programs.
Together, the seven units in the course present a basic,
practical approach to program evaluation. Its purpose is to provide
you with the tools, understanding, and confidence to evaluate your
own programs. As a participant in the class, you will be required to
develop at least two evaluation tools (observation form,
questionnaire, interview, focus group guide, and an alternative
assessment) and apply these tools to a specific program. The term
"program" is used here to mean a sequence of planned educational
experiences and materials intended to achieve specific outcomes with
a particular audience. The program you choose to evaluate may range
from a one-day festival with a series of scheduled activities to a
long-term educational project. By the end of the course you will
have put together a comprehensive plan to evaluate a program at your
site. If you do not have an existing program, you can either develop
a hypothetical program or use one of program descriptions provided.
This course requires that you devote adequate time to
successfully complete the readings, assignments, and discussion
board interaction. You will need to spend an average of 10-15 hours
per week on this course in order to obtain a passing grade and
certificate of completion as a workshop participant. Those taking
the course for credit will need to devote approximately 15 hours per
week to be successful.
The AEEPE course was developed in collaboration with national
environmental education and evaluation experts, using materials
produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation
Training Center (FWS/NCTC), North American Association for
Environmental Education (NAAEE), and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Agency (NOAA).
Wherever possible, the course supports
NAAEE guidelines. While the guidelines offer a set of standards
for developing and administering high quality environmental
education programs, the course offers a practical way of achieving
those standards. Throughout the course you will find links to the
key characteristics, guidelines, and indicators that correspond to
the course material.