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June 2003 KCEEN roundtable summary

Priorities & Goals Summary

Based on the information from the June 2003 EE roundtable breakout sessions and evaluations, the KCEEN steering committee established the following list of priorities and goals to work toward over the next year. The issues identified at the roundtable focused on three key areas of concern: curriculum integration, resources and funding.

• Compile and provide information on funding opportunities to teachers and other EE professionals
• Establish a clearinghouse (set of communication tools) for local/regional EE information and resources
• Strengthen communication with teachers and build awareness about EE
• Facilitate networking and training opportunities that work within teacher and district schedules with the goal to hold the next roundtable in February 2004 to highlight “EE Success Stories”
• Package EE resources and services to demonstrate how they meet state standards and teacher certification requirements (“contact hours”, “clock hours”, etc.)

Overview of Top 3 Priority Needs/Barriers/Solutions

Identified by Breakout Groups:

Group 1

1. Make the learning stick
2. Increase support from institutional authorities
3. Remove barricade between environmental education and core subject areas within school (integrate two subjects)

Group 2 (top 3 needs, didn’t number)

• Field experiences for environmental educators (a sampler of EE in the metro area, utilize resources in the area, i.e. EarthWorks, KC Zoo, Discovery Center, and Ottawa University has similar two-day course, teacher take bus trips).
• Teacher academy for EE (make prestigious, pay teachers $1,000 stipend, a year commitment to EE, great opportunity to bring various organizations together).
• Tie available EE resources to state standards (create an innovative way to convey the connections - beyond what is already done).

Group 3 (top 3 priorities, didn’t number)

• Field trips for teachers to see facilities first-hand.
• (Tie) Networking-match expertise to needs/Students as educators (RecycleFirst).
• Create greater awareness about the value of EE, especially for administrators.

Group 4 (Group Note: We’re doing the things listed below…How can we do them better?)

1. Communication, marketing, networking to get the message out about EE. (make it personal for everyone)
2. Expand EE to be more action-based, move it out of the "science box" by/through: project-based/service learning, apply to curriculum standards, use school campuses and businesses as models for implementing EE projects, activities, etc.
3. Resources, funding, time logistics.

Group 5 (top 3 solutions)

1. Put EE questions on State Tests for all grades.
2. Connect the concept of Economics and the Environment.
3. Partnering --to further EE; to fund events (Media Promotion, Corporate Sponsors, Agencies, Schools, Churches, community groups).

Group 6 (top 3 priorities)

1. Integrate EE into all subject areas.
2. Make connection to place in curriculum: place-based.
3. Lack of awareness of EE resources.

Group 7 (top 3 priorities)

1. Improve communication between formal and nonformal educators. Continue the roundtable annually. Let teachers know what programs are out there. Connect teachers to programs.
2. Connect students to the natural world. Inspire them. Create nooks of nature everywhere.
3. Use place-based education using the community as a starting point. Involve students in the community. Develop a sense of community within the neighborhood as opposed to focusing on a global view.

October 16, 2003