By Catherine Estes

Science Text Featuring PLT
Title: Teaching Science for All Children: An Inquiry Approach (with "Video Explorations" VideoWorkshop CD-ROM) (4th Edition)
Publisher:  Allyn and Bacon, Boston, MA
Authors:  R. Martin, C. Sexton, T. Franklin with G. Gerlovich
ISBN: 0205412602
This newly revised text is one of the most widely used in science methods courses across the country. It features PLT in a couple of prominent places, including slight modifications of a lesson illustrating how Ralph Martin and Colleen Sexton directly address science standards using PLT. Ralph and Colleen are methods instructors at Ohio University and have actively used PLT in their pre-service and in-service teacher preparation.

Environmental Education Works
Data, studies, and case examples of how environmental education has a measurable impact on environmental protection and improved student learning, including better results on standard tests. The EE-works is a service of the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation
(NEETF). http://www.TheEEWorks.org

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE)
More than 30 Federal agencies formed a working group in 1997 to make hundreds of Federally supported teaching and learning resources easier to find. The result of that work is the FREE web site: http://www.ed.gov/free/index.html  
Each topic area (Science, Social Studies, etc.) is further broken down into subtopics (there are 20 subtopics within the science category alone). Each topic and subtopic is connected to numerous online educational resources.

PBS Borders Environmental Project
The PBS Borders Environmental Project offers lesson plans for K-12 teachers designed to facilitate online storytelling and sharing. Each of the three lesson plans focuses on Earth, Water or Air, the three general themes of the P.O.V.'s Borders Environmental project. Downloadable in pdf or html format, students explore how human activity and industrialization are altering air quality, how water is used in local communities, and the social impact of land use. Go to www.pbs.org/pov/borders/2004/educators/index.html  for more.

U.S.G.S. Water Cycle website
The U.S. Geological Survey have just finished “the most comprehensive Web
site about ‘The Water Cycle’ anywhere.” It features a superb diagram of
the water cycle and an in-depth discussion of each of the 15 topics on the
diagram. And, the diagram is available in 36 languages.
The URL is: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html

Results From SC Middle Schools Using EIC
South Carolina middle school students are engaged in real-world, community-based, and standards-aligned environmental investigative and service-learning projects that improve their behavior, attitudes and
grades. Teachers of all disciplines, together with parents, local businesses, universities, and federal, state, county and non-profit
environmental groups are helping students stay in class and improve their learning. First year quantitative and qualitative data collected from an outside evaluator from ten South Carolina pilot middle schools
indicate adolescents are responding very favorably to these new instructional strategies. Teacher confidence and classroom management skills improved as students responded. The Environment as an Integrating Context (EIC) model is based on national research conducted by the State
Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER). Visit the SEER© website at
www.seer.org for information. View the complete report: "Education Using
the Environment" by Edward H. Falco online. http://www.myscschools.com/Offices/CSO/enved

NSTA Issues Position Statement on Scientific Inquiry
Recognizing the power that scientific inquiry has in helping students understand science content, NSTA has issued a position statement that sets forth key recommendations on three central aspects of inquiry: the use of scientific inquiry as a teaching approach, students' abilities to do scientific inquiry, and students' understanding of scientific inquiry. NSTA recommends that all K-16 teachers embrace scientific inquiry and is committed to helping educators make it the centerpiece of the science classroom. To download a copy of the Scientific Inquiry position statement, go to http://www.nsta.org/positionstatement&psid=43. To view all NSTA position statements, go to http://www.nsta.org/position.

Fundamentals of Environmental Education Online Course 
A 10-week online course about the fundamentals of environmental education will be offered this spring (February 7– April 15, 2005). The course is appropriate for both classroom teachers and non-formal educators who work with students and/or teachers. Participants may obtain three undergraduate or graduate credits from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. All students, regardless of location, are eligible for the in-state tuition rate. The course is also offered at a reduced cost for those who are not interested in obtaining college credit.

The "Fundamentals of Environmental Education" online course provides educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to incorporate quality environmental education into their instruction. Participants discuss the history, definition, and goals of environmental education; develop an understanding of the professional roles and instructional methods of environmental educators; and interact with other educators from across the country. Past course participants have given the course excellent reviews. The course was developed by the Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) in collaboration with national EE experts.  For more information, please visit www.eetap.org and click on “Online EE Courses” or contact Angela Arkin at Angela.Arkin@uwsp.edu for a registration form.

Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation – NEW Online Course 
A new 10-week online course entitled "Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation" will be offered February 21 – April 29, 2005 through the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The course is designed to assist environmental educators and natural resource professionals in evaluating their education programs. Participants have the opportunity to apply skills in designing evaluation tools such as questionnaires, observation forms, and interview and focus group guides. This course was developed as a cooperative effort between the Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Conservation Training Center. Participants may obtain three undergraduate or graduate credits from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. All participants, regardless of location, are eligible for the in-state tuition rate. The course is also offered as a non-credit workshop for those who are not seeking college credit. 
 
FWS employees should register online through the National Conservation Training Center at https://otis.fws.gov using the following course number (OUT8W02). Contact Georgia Jeppesen at (304) 876-7388 or georgia_jeppesen@fws.gov if you have questions. 
 
All others should register through the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point by contacting Angela Arkin in the Extension office at (715) 346-3854 or Angela.Arkin@uwsp.edu to request a registration form.  To learn more visit the EETAP website at www.eetap.org and click on "Online EE Courses."