Kristen Karpf-Mueller, July 31, 2002

Audit Improves Environmental Education in Sparta Schools

Kristen Karpf-Mueller, Sparta, a 2002 graduate of the Masters of Science in Natural Resources Program for Teachers at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, has spent the last year developing and utilizing an audit survey that would allow teachers to identify which Wisconsin Environmental Education standards are being implemented within their curriculum.

Mueller, a former New London resident, under the guidance of Dr. Dan Sivek, Dr. Dennis Yockers, Dr. Richard Wilke, and her advisor Dr. Randy Champeau, all of the College of Natural Resources, developed and implemented a survey that identified which Wisconsin Environmental Education (EE) standards are being taught and/or overlooked by the Sparta Intermediate and Elementary school teachers and created grade specific recommendations for her local school district.

There were two main objectives to this project.  The first was to determine which  Wisconsin EE standards were already included in the existing curricula and identify which of the standards, or parts of the standards, were not being met.  This objective was accomplished by creating a survey with precise Environmental Education definitions, goals, and standards for the teachers to examine.  Mueller analyzed the returned data and compiled it into a matrix that enabled the teachers to easily see the strengths and weaknesses in their existing curricular programs.

The second objective was to assist the staff in meeting all of the Wisconsin Environmental Educations standards.  Reviewing the curricula currently being taught and identifying topics that would lend themselves to creating extensions accomplished this objective.  Recommendation packets with grade specific activities, extensions,  internet resources, and specific local resources were then created for each of the K-4 grade level teachers involved in the study. 

Mueller presented her findings in a seminar this summer at the College of Natural Resources on the UWSP campus where she talked about the success of her survey and the positive results that occurred within the K-4 grade levels after the implementation of the her recommendations.  She said, “Overall, the teachers were already doing a good job but they had missed several of the Wisconsin Environmental Education standards.  My project made it easy for the staff to include instruction addressing the missing EE standards.”

When asked what she was going to accomplish next, Mueller replied, “Several projects are already on the back burner.  I am currently working on completing the Audit Survey for Grades 5-12 and am eager to address the findings.  I have also been approached to speak at a statewide conference of curriculum directors regarding district compliance with state environmental education mandates and it has been suggested by the Sparta School District curriculum director that I offer this assessment tool to other school districts to help bring them into compliance with the Wisconsin EE standards.”

Teachers interested in more information on the Master’s degree program in environmental education at UW Stevens Point can contact Tim Byers, Program Coordinator at (715) 346-4176.

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