Section outline

  • Welcome to Managing Controversy: Strategies for Teaching Environmental Issues and Topics. This course is designed to actively involve educators in understanding and building skills in how to investigate and evaluate environmental issues and topics with their learners. The course models a variety of effective strategies educators can use to assist learners in exploring and seeking responsible courses of action toward the resolution of environmental issues. Participants will explore how to effectively teach about environmental issues and topics, and will start to develop their own classroom and/or program plans and outlines about teaching environmental issues and/or topics - with an emphasis on local issues.


    Objectives and Expectations

    By the end of this course, you will be able to: 

    • Understand the differences between controversial issues and controversial topics and how to address them differently.
    • Identify components of an environmental issue and use criteria to frame the issue for analysis.
    • Apply a five-step process for environmental issue analysis.
    • Understand the role of the educator in navigating controversial topics and environmental issue analysis.
    • Understand how to set the stage to minimize conflict and address conflict when it arises .

    As a participant in this course, it is expected that you:

    • Commit the time required to complete all readings, assignments and assessments.
    • Complete Modules 1-5 and their associated assignments, as well as submit the final course assessment. You will have 8 weeks to complete the course upon enrollment.


    Prerequisites

    • Experience working in formal or nonformal education is not required but highly encouraged.


    Required Materials

    • Access to reliable internet and a desktop computer or laptop.


    Completing Tasks and Assignments

    For each Module, you will record responses to prompts and complete tasks in a Course Journal. At the end of each module, you will submit your Course Journal with the relevant sections completed. 

    The Course Journal and other documents will be provided in the form of Google Docs.  You can either download as a Word document or "Make a Copy" under the File menu to edit it as your own. Assignments can be submitted as Google Docs by using the link-sharing feature. Assignments can also be submitted by attaching Word documents. If you have questions or would prefer another option, please contact Lisa Eadens at lisaeadens@caee.org.


    Grading

    • Assignments must be completed with a score of 2 as indicated on the scoring guide provided.
    • If you complete all of the course assignments with a grade of 2 or more you will receive a Certificate of Completion for 15-hours of professional development. 


    Important Dates

    This course runs for 8 weeks, from January 27 - March 21, 2025. Although you can complete the course at your own pace, below is a recommended schedule for completing each module: 

    • Module 1 - Complete by February 7
    • Module 2 - Complete by February 19
    • Module 3 - Complete by February 28
    • Module 4 - Complete by March 12
    • Module 5 - Complete by March 21

    Additionally, you will be required to attend at least one 1-hour online discussion with fellow eeCourse participants to share ideas, reflections on course materials, and/or final course project materials. Three options are provided below. Calendar invites to all three options will be emailed to you. Please "accept" the invitation to the online discussion(s) you wish to attend.


    Meet Your Course Moderator
    Your course moderator is Lisa Eadens. Lisa is the Program Coordinator for CAEE and has been with CAEE since 2013. She coordinates CAEE's professional development trainings along with the Excellence in EE Award Program and Careers in Natural Resources Initiative. She will review and score your assignments, offer feedback and be available for the optional course meetings to answer questions.

    Get to Know the Course

    Please watch this video walk-through from the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education to learn how to navigate course modules, materials, and assignments in Moodle.

         

         

    This course was supported by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Environmental Education Grants.   It has not been formally reviewed by EPA. The views expressed in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Agency.