Recorded presentation

C. Keil, PhD¹, J. Haney, PhD², A. Lumpe, PhD³, and A. Boros, MS¹. (1) Environmental Health Program, Bowling Green State University, 223 Health Center, Bowling Green, OH 43403, 419-372-0368, ckeil@bgnet.bgsu.edu, (2) Division of Teaching and Learning, Bowling Green State University, 126 Life Science Building, Bowling Green, OH 43403, (3) Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75799

Project EXCITE (Environmental Health Science Explorations Through Cross-Disciplinary and Investigative Team Experiences) uses Problem Based Learning (PBL) as a vehicle for student interactions with locally pertinent environmental health science (EHS) topics. In-service interdisciplinary teacher teams, assisted by project staff, develop and implement customized curriculum in middle grades classrooms. External assessment of the project, using a variety of indicators, identified a number of successes related to both participating teachers and students. After initial training, teachers are adept at describing EHS issues and factors and able to correlate EHS issues with national and state education standards. Teacher teams are able to design detailed lesson plans that included EHS issues and PBL strategies and they understand the value of PBL strategies. The use of specific instructional strategies associated with reform based PBL models appears to be increasing over the life of the project. Teachers' use of reform-based strategies is positively correlated with their teaching self-efficacy beliefs and highest degree earned. Students are beginning to demonstrate knowledge of EHS issues and enjoy working in small groups and conducting hands-on experiments. Also the students are able to identify EHS related careers. Additionally a key component of the PBL model is student decision making and taking action. A variety of taking action projects have been accomplished by participating classes including: providing input into school board decision making regarding school environmental quality, providing a variety of peer education experiences and making recommendations regarding the cleaning products used in their school.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will
• Recognize the value of environmental health issues as an integrating context for learning
• Appreciate the value of problem based learning approaches for creating meaningful learning experiences
• Identify specific successes using the approaches presented.

Keywords: Education, Environmental Health

Related Web page: www.bgsu.edu/colleges/edhd/programs/excite/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation