Section outline

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    General

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    Module 1: Course Introduction

    DESCRIPTION: In this introductory module, you will be introduced to the Nebraska Alliance for Conservaiton & Environmental Educaiton and the support they offer environmental educators working to build a community of practice in Nebraska. You’ll also be introduced to the concept of nature connection, and asked to explore your own thinking regarding the interconnection between humans and the natural world. 

    OBJECTIVES: After completing this module, you should be able to:

    • Demonstrate an understanding of environmental education and its benefits.

    • Recognize the meaning of Interconnection of humans with nature.

    • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of how to use the resources and connections that are available to you through (State Affiliate)

    BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT: You will be able to articulate the positive impact of sound environmental education on mental, emotional and physical wellness.

    MODULE ONE ASSIGNMENTS: The following assignments will be required to complete for each lesson found in this module. To complete these assignments, you will be intstructed to make a copy and save your own version of the Course Journal template found in lesson one. All assignments are also found within the course journal - making it easy to follow along. Before you begin the module, you may find it helpful to see the reflection questions below ahead of time. 

    Lesson One: In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions: 

    • Share 3-5 NACEE resources you find the most relevant and helpful for your work.
    • How do you think incorporating environmental education into your initiatives might have a positive impact on the work that you do? Do you imagine how these impacts could improve mental and physical wellness?

    Lesson Two: In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions: 

    • What are you hoping to get out of this course?
    • What are five questions you have about Nature & Human Wellness?
    • Of these five questions, which one connects or relates the most with your current work/community/ee practices?

    Lesson Three: In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions: 

    • Share how your nature connectedness measurement is meaningful to you.
    • How has nature impacted you personally?
    • How have you seen nature’s impact in your profession? 

     

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    Module 2: Biological Foundations to Nature & Human Interconnection

    DESCRIPTION: Humans’ connection to the natural world is deeply rooted in our biology, as like all life on earth we’re dependent on our environment for survival - and that interdependence has shaped both us and our environment. In this module, you will explore the historical and foundational biological roots to our interconnection by learning about the foundations of human evolutionary biology, environmental psychology, and culture. These frameworks will provide you with a deeper understanding of the biological roots of our interconnection with the natural world. 

    This module includes the following sections: 

    OBJECTIVES:

    After completing this module, you should be able to:

    • Demonstrate an understanding of human evolution and human adaptations.

    • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the timeline of human experience as it relates to connections to the natural world.

    BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT:

    •  You will be able to  articulate the connection that humans have with nature that is deeply rooted in thousands of years of adapting to a changing natural world.

    MODULE TWO ASSIGNMENTS: The following assignments will be required to complete for each lesson found in this module. In addition to the lessons, you will begin to work on thinking about your final capstone project by completing the Building Your Capstone Module Two Assignment. To complete these assignments, answer the following questions within your copy of your Course Journal. All assignments are also found within the course journal - making it easy to follow along. Before you begin the module, you may find it helpful to see the reflection questions below ahead of time. 

    Lesson One

    In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions:

    • Which Video best described and related to your point of view about evolution? Describe which video segment was especially relevant to your understanding of the evolutionary process.
    • List 3-5 questions you have about our species that relate to our own connections with nature. This could include humans in the past, present or future (or all of these).

    Lesson Two

    In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions:

    • Were you aware of the concept of “Evolutionary Mismatch Theory” prior to reading this course information and the article? Write a one paragraph reflection on how you see evolutionary mismatch in your life today and how it impacts your point of view about human evolution and the ability to adapt to a changing world.

    LESSON THREE

    In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions:

    • Use the embedded table found in your course journal to list 3-5 ways your own ideas of your culture relate to your connections to the environment:
    • After taking the “Worldview Assessment”, reflect on the following in your course journal: 

    o   What did you learn about your own worldview?

    o   Has your worldview changed over time?

    o   How do you think your worldview influences how you feel about your relationship to the natural world?

    BUILDING YOUR CAPSTONE FINAL MODULE 2 ASSIGNMENT

    In your course journal, please answer the following prompt which will help to build your final capstone project :

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    Module 3: Impact of Nature on Human Health & Development

    DESCRIPTION: Just as leaves support the growth and health of a flower from seedling to mature plant, nature supports our growth, health and wellness throughout our entire lifespan. In this module, explore how nature access and connection benefit healthy human development, from childhood through adulthood by learning about the specific mechanisms and pathways emerging in the research on nature and human connection. 

    This module includes the following sections: 

     

    OBJECTIVES: After completing this module, you should be able to:

    • Identify at least 5 ways nature exposure impacts various aspects of physical health and well-being in children.
    • Summarize the positive relationship between nature exposure and various aspects of children’s mental health and well-being.
    • Identify at least 3 scientific conclusions that affirm that connections to nature support the development of knowledge and skills that help children think about and understand the world around them. 

     

    BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT: You will be able to summarize how connections with nature help support all aspects of wellness across the entire lifespan of a human.

    MODULE THREE ASSIGNMENTS: The following assignments will be required to complete for each lesson found in this module. In addition to the lessons, you will continue to work on building your final capstone project by completing the Building Your Capstone Module Three Assignment. To complete these assignments, answer the following questions within your copy of your Course Journal. All assignments are also found within the course journal - making it easy to follow along. Before you begin the module, you may find it helpful to see the reflection questions below ahead of time. 

    LESSON ONE 

    In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions:

    • Choose one of the 2 articles (either “Biophilia as Evolutionary Adaptation” or “What is Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory?”) and describe how you think the research on your choice supports the idea of human and nature connections.  What was the most convincing support for this within your chosen article, and why do you think it is so compelling?
    • Now that you have been introduced to the concept of Biodiversity (the 3 levels of biodiversity, and human connections and impacts on biodiversity), reflect in your journal how you believe that biodiversity relates to your own well-being (mental, physical, emotional or otherwise).
    • Do you think Biodiversity does impact human wellness? In what ways (list 3)?
    • Are we as humans important when it comes to any or all of the layers of biodiversity?
    • Describe 3 ways we as humans impact biodiversity (positive or negative or both).

    LESSON TWO

    In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions:

    • After reading “Children & the Natural Environment”, reflect on the section defining nature experiences found in table 10.1. 
      • What resonated with you from your own experience and why?
      • Describe at least three benefits nature has on child development. How has your nature connection benefited your mental, physical, and cognitive health?
    • Have you seen any of the positive impacts of nature on children in your work? Describe those that have stayed with you the most. 

    LESSON THREE

    In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions:

    • After watching the video featuring Dr. Susan Masino, reflect here in your journal about the following:
      • What was something you heard that stood out to you and why?
      • Why do you think that our brain functioning and cognitive development is impacted by nature connections?
      • Describe how you could apply something you heard from Dr. Masino’s research to your own life and/or the work you do.
    • Now that you’ve explored the benefits of nature connections on the whole person and wellness, use the template embedded in your journal to conduct an assessment of at least 5 methods/tools for positively impacting wellness for your students through your lessons/programs.  Think of this as an attempt to create a “Wellness Kit” you will utilize for every EE program/lesson you host (not unlike you would include a First Aid Kit for every field trip).

    BUILDING YOUR FINAL CAPSTONE MODULE 3 ASSIGNMENT 

    In your course journal, please answer the following prompt which will help to build your final capstone project : 

    • Create a one page outline providing the main points, themes, and description for what will become your capstone project. 
    • Browse through the Children & Nature Network Research Library using keywords related to the specific theme of your capstone project. Find 2 articles that might support your capstone project, link them in your references section in your outline.
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    Module 4: Leveraging our Interconnection: Strategies & Implementation

    DESCRIPTION: Increasing equitable access to nature boosts learning outcomes, reduces health disparities, and enhances quality of life. In this final module, you will explore strategies and policies working to prioritize nature access and integration within education, healthcare, and communities nationwide – and reflect on how you can help spread these seeds of change in your own communities and practice.

    This module includes the following sections: 

    OBJECTIVES: After completing this module, you should be able to:

    • Understand the meaning of educational interventions and how to embed them into your lessons/programs.
    • Discover how these interventions can benefit students as well as the overall  learning community (the school, district, community, etc). Explore the challenges of equitable access to nature worldwide.

    BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT: You will be able to synthesize what you’ve learned and integrate it into your own community of practice by creating and submitting your final capstone project. 

    MODULE FOUR ASSIGNMENTS: The following assignments will be required to complete for each lesson found in this module. In addition to the lessons, you will work to finish your final capstone project by completing the Building Your Capstone Module Four Assignment. To complete these assignments, answer the following questions within your copy of your Course Journal. All assignments are also found within the course journal - making it easy to follow along. Before you begin the module, you may find it helpful to see the reflection questions below ahead of time. 

    LESSON ONE

    In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions:

    • In the 3rd module you did an initial assessment of at least 5 methods/tools for positively impacting wellness for your students through your lessons/programs. As you wrap up working through the course, we encourage you to reflect deeply on your personal relationship with the natural world, if your understanding of our interconnection has deepened or changed, and how you might integrate this understanding by adding interventions into your practice.
      • To review, list your 5 methods in your Course Journal; refine your list and add more if you choose.

    LESSON TWO

    In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions:

    • Now that you have explored the benefits of nature on learning outcomes, how outdoor learning and the greening of schools improves wellness, and trends toward adding nature experiences as therapeutic strategies, reflect on the following in this journal:

    o   How has time in nature changed in your life/community since you were a young child in school?

    o   How are you witnessing changes in educational approaches that include outdoor learning/nature connections?

    o   How can your students connect with nature no matter their zip code? How can students benefit from the natural world no matter where they live?

    LESSON FOUR

    In your course journal, please reflect on the following questions:

    • When we started this journey, you answered the following questions in your course journal:
      • What are you hoping to get out of this course?
      • are five questions you have about Nature & Human Wellness?
      • Of these five questions, which one connects or relates the most with your current work/community/ee practices?
    • As you wrap up working through the course, we encourage you to reflect deeply on:
      • How has your personal relationship with the natural world expanded or changed?
      • How has your understanding of our interconnection with nature deepened or changed?
      • How might you integrate this understanding into your practice?

    FINAL CAPSTONE PROJECT

    Submit your final capstone project. For a reminder of the full description of the capstone project requirements, click here.