Section outline

  • Welcome to Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Environmental Education (EE) eeCourse.  This course was developed by Scott Frazier, Santee and an enrolled Crow Tribal Member, Renee Sans Souci, Omaha woman, Abby Ybarra, Yaqui-Tohono O’Odham, the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education, and the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education in collaboration with the Missouri Environmental Education Association, the Montana Environmental Education Association, the Nebraska Alliance for Conservation and Environmental Education, the Utah Society for Environmental Education and the Wyoming Alliance for Environmental Education.

    This course is designed to provide a strong foundation in Traditional Ecological Knowledge and ways of knowing.  It is meant to be an introductory course and spark interest in further learning around how we can more intentionally and respectfully incorporate traditional ways of knowing into our environmental and outdoor learning programming.  After exploring background information on TEK, how it compares to Western Science and building relationships and observations as knowledge building, in the final module you will put your new knowledge into a plan to integrate TEK into your teaching.  

    For additional learning opportunities, please reach out to Project Indigenous and independent consultant Renee Sans Souci.    


    Objectives and Expectations

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

    • Describe how you know and share knowledge and compare that with Indigenous knowledge and knowledge sharing.

    • Identify some of the opportunities and challenges in using TEK to address environmental challenges.  

    • Develop your personal guidelines for integrating principles of TEK in your teaching which honor, acknowledge and care take TEK and Indigenous people. 

    • Compare and Contrast Traditional Ecological Knowledge & Ways of Knowing with Western Science & Ways of Knowing 

    • Support your students in developing relationships with the world around them.

    • Teach a lesson or a unit which integrates TEK knowledge and/or practices with your students.


    As a student of 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 evaluation.  You will have 8 weeks to complete the course.


    Prerequisites

    • Past participation in environmental and outdoor learning is encouraged.

    • Experience working in 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 and Optional Course Credit

    • 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. 

    • 1 semester hour of CSM credit can be earned from the Colorado School of Mines for an additional $67. If you are interested in earning CSM credit, you will need to complete the course with a grade of 2 or more on all assignments and pay at te.csmspace.com/register.php?c=725 at any point during the course term.


    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.