The PA Association of Environmental Educators is highlighting two multi-part professional development courses being offered this fall-- Universal Design For Learning In Environmental Education and Introduction to Community Engagement Guidelines For Excellence.

Design For EE

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to guide the design of learning environments that are accessible and challenging for all, rather than making modifications for individual students’ needs.

This is an asynchronous course that will run from September 30 - November 10.

This course will encourage you to reflect deeply on your practice to focus on how you plan and teach, not just the content you teach. 

Whether you’re a classroom teacher or outdoor nonformal educator, are an experienced professional or just getting started in the field, and are new to inclusion or have been leading inclusive programming for years, we hope this course will inspire you to strengthen your pedagogical practices so they are more welcoming, inclusive and accessible for all learners.

Focus areas include:

-- Understanding the principles of Universal Design for Learning

--Describing terms, techniques, tools, and resources to promote inclusivity and access to better serve diverse populations, specifically those with learning differences, physical accessibility needs, and language barriers

-- Evaluating your current teaching practices/pedagogy and your setting to identify barriers to participation

-- Applying the principles of universal design for learning to your pedagogical practices to redesign a lesson, activity, or program

This course content was designed by Michelle Silvers of Silver’s Lining PLLC, Estrella Risinger with the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, Michelle Pearce and Lauren Pyle with the Environmental Educators of North Carolina, with contributions from Rebekah Jones and the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning.

The deadline to register is September 25.

Click Here to register and for more information.  Questions should be directed to Alyssa at: alyssa@paee.net.

Community Engagement

This course is designed to introduce you to and provide a broad overview of NAAEE’s Guidelines for Excellence: Community Engagement.

It is an asynchronous course that will run from October 27 - December 8.

This set of guidelines focuses on community wellness and is designed to help environmental educators create inclusive environments that support effective partnerships and collaborations.

Format:

-- All activities must be completed independently on your own time/schedule within the 4 week timeframe.  The actual time to complete the course will vary, but we estimate it will take approximately 10 hours.

-- We will provide a suggested timeline and periodic reminders to encourage timely completion of assignments.  While we want to be flexible, we also want these learning experiences to be meaningful and we think timely and periodic work in the courses will benefit participants more than trying to complete coursework at the last minute.

-- Coursework includes watching videos, reading articles, posting on forums and Padlet boards, and writing personal reflections using the Moodle Platform.

The deadline to register is October 25

Click Here to register and for more information. Questions should be directed to Alyssa at: alyssa@paee.net.

For more information on programs, initiatives, resources and other upcoming events, visit the PA Association of Environmental Educators website.  Click Here to sign up for the PAEE newsletter (bottom of page, left).  Click Here to become a member.  Click Here to support PAEE’s work.

The PAEE will hold its 2025 Annual Conference March 10-12 at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie.  The theme is - Waves Of Connection.

[Posted: August 26, 2024]

9/2/2024