In this course, participants will explore the basic causes and effects of climate change and develop strategies and lesson plans for teaching climate change to K-12 students. Participants will become familiar with the Next Generation Science Standards that pertain to climate change issues. They will learn to design dynamic lessons using “best practices” in teaching strategies to engage their students in thoughtful ways and motivate them to take action towards environmental stewardship. The course is organized in a way that allows for differentiation, depending upon the grade level the participant teaches. The unique design of this course allows participants flexibility to focus on the resources that best meet their needs for their own teaching situation.
Number of Units: 2.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours
Who Should Attend: This course provides continuing education for K-12 teachers, all disciplines, who want to gain a new perspective on incorporating climate change content into their lessons to bring about awareness and positive change.
Course Materials: None
Technical Requirements
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Online fixed-date courses are delivered virtually but follow a predetermined schedule, requiring students to complete assignments, participate in discussions, and take assessments by specific deadlines—much like a traditional classroom. The key difference is that while traditional courses are conducted in person at set times and locations, online fixed-date courses allow students to engage remotely, offering more flexibility in where they learn while preserving structure and accountability through fixed timelines. (Note: Any scheduled Zoom sessions will be outlined on the class schedule.) These courses have fixed start and finish dates, but as an online student you will have 24/7 online access to your classroom assignments, syllabus and course resources. Instructor feedback is shared along with the graded assignments.
How is the learning structured? Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates. The course is designed with learning modules where all of the content is grouped into weekly assignments. Each module covers one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:
• Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
• Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
• Assignments with due dates (which may include: written assignments, journal entries, research, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
• Discussion forum where you answer prompts from the instructor and interact with your classmates.
• Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.
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