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Ride the TIDES: Empowering Pre-Service Teachers with Environmental Education

by
Meredith Lemke
A group of future teachers cross a concrete bridge on a foggy day.
Future secondary science teachers learn about environmental education techniques at Belle Isle in Richmond, VA during their pre-service education program with Dr. Elizabeth Edmondson of Virginia Commonwealth University.

by Lisa Ayers Lawrence, Virginia Institute of Marine Science,

& Sarah Nuss, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

The Importance of Environmental Literacy

As the environment faces unprecedented challenges, it’s imperative that students become environmentally literate individuals capable of making informed decisions and devising creative solutions. Classroom teachers are pivotal in developing students’ environmental understanding and stewardship, and instilling these values early in their students' educational journeys. However, teacher preparation programs often find the inclusion of environmental education to be challenging due to program requirements, curriculum alignment issues, and a shortage of knowledgeable faculty.

Addressing the Challenges

The new Teachers Innovating and Designing Experiential Science (TIDES) Hub is set to transform teacher preparation programs by providing essential resources for environmental education and Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). This online platform aims to support the faculty of teacher preparation programs by enhancing their content and pedagogical knowledge, offering instructional resources for their courses, and equipping pre-service teachers with the tools needed to integrate environmental education and MWEEs into their future classrooms.

The TIDES Hub connects faculty members with a wealth of environmental education resources, best practices, tools, and strategies to incorporate environmental education into their existing curriculum and into teaching our next generation of classroom educators. Faculty can become more comfortable and proficient in teaching and modeling environmental education and MWEEs, by familiarizing themselves with why MWEEs are important, learning different approaches to incorporating environmental education into their science methods courses, and engaging with outdoor learning experiences themselves. TIDES also highlights successful examples of environmental education integration, offering a roadmap for faculty to follow.

“We believe that preparing educators who understand how to emphasize hands-on, real-life learning experiences can tremendously impact student motivation to learn, students’ learning of content and skills, and students being able to transfer and apply that knowledge and understanding beyond the classroom.”
- Dr. Robbie Higdon, James Madison University

Key Features of the TIDES Hub

  1. Comprehensive Resource Compilation: The TIDES Hub provides access to a variety of instructional materials such as environmental issue identification cards, strategies for fostering student voice, sample syllabi, and environmental literacy models. These resources are designed to be flexible, catering to the varying levels of faculty expertise and confidence.

  2. Alignment with National Standards: To facilitate the integration of environmental education into existing curricula, the Hub explains how environmental education aligns with the InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards. This alignment helps faculty see the clear connection between environmental education and required coursework.

  3. Faculty and Pre-Service Teacher Support: The TIDES Hub is divided into sections that cater to both university faculty and pre-service teachers. Faculty can find extended presentations, case studies, and sample modules, while pre-service teachers gain access to classroom curricula, online resources, and project ideas. This dual approach ensures that both groups receive the support they need.

Looking Forward

The launch of the TIDES Hub marks a significant step towards embedding environmental education within pre-service teacher programs. By providing a centralized platform for resources and training, the Hub empowers faculty to confidently integrate environmental education into their courses. In turn, pre-service teachers will be better equipped to educate their future students about the environment, fostering a new generation of environmentally literate citizens.

Dr. Cindy Klevickis, a professor at James Madison University, saw first-hand the value the pre-service teachers she taught gained by engaging in MWEEs in their pre-service course, “it wasn’t just that they were learning all of the environmental things that related to the Chesapeake Bay, but the idea of the power of a field trip … it made a big impact.”

The TIDES Hub is more than just a resource repository; it’s a catalyst for change in environmental education. For more information and to access the TIDES Hub, visit TIDES MWEE Hub.

Education students lay on a sidewalk in the shade with test tubes and worksheets while measuring water quality.
Education students from Virginia Wesleyan University measure water quality outdoors during a MWEE on their campus.

This blog post aims to inform and inspire K-12 teachers and administrators about the exciting new developments in pre-service teacher education. By leveraging the resources provided by the TIDES Hub, educators can make a lasting impact on their students and contribute to a more environmentally literate populace.