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Keystone Commitment Progress: Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience

On August 17th, 2006, the Chesapeake Bay Program's Education Workgroup, led by Ann Regn and Shannon Sprague, focused on enhancing student engagement through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). The initiative aims to ensure every student in the watershed has a meaningful outdoor experience related to the Bay or local streams before graduation. Strategies include partnering with state education departments, launching a web-based resource clearinghouse (ChART), and evaluating the effectiveness of MWEE implementation to foster environmental stewardship and academic achievement.

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Keystone Commitment Progress: Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience

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  1. Keystone Commitment Progress: Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Chesapeake Bay Program Education Workgroup August 17th, 2006 Chair: Ann Regn, VA DEQCoordinator: Shannon Sprague, NOAAStaff: Kevin Schabow, CRC

  2. C2K Workgroup Charge • Provide opportunities to participate in local or school stewardship projects (MWEEs) • Develop a web-based clearinghouse for educators (ChART) • Partner with state DOEs & institutions of higher learning to integrate watershed information into school curricula KeystoneBeginning with the class of 2005, provide a meaningful Bay or stream outdoor experience for every school student in the watershed before graduation from high school

  3. Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience • Watershed-based experiential education • Applicable to all academic subjects • Aligns with jurisdictional education standards • Investigative or project oriented • Projects strive to improve environment • Sustained activity • Community focused

  4. 2005 Executive Council Actions Chesapeake Watershed Education Agreement November 2005 • Supports C2K goal to provide MWEEs to all students before graduation • Expands partnerships to accelerate progress toward achieving C2K education & outreach commitment • Includes commitments to increase technology and focus on John Smith Commemoration Endorsement of the MWEE January 2005 • Supports C2K goal to provide MWEEs to all students before graduation • Commits states to: • work with legislatures and Congress to secure funding • ensure adequate EWG representation, including DOEs • reconvene jurisdictional workgroups

  5. Evaluating the MWEE • Workgroup recognizes the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of the MWEE at reaching CBP goals and objectives • Launched 2-stage process in 2004 • Qualitative: Effect of MWEEs • Quantitative: Extent of MWEEs • Effort led by NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office Education Program

  6. Qualitative: Evaluation • Funding: NOAA, Keith Campbell Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Trust • Academic Achievement: • Does meaningful environment-based learning increase academic achievement in science and/or overall? • Environmental Stewardship: • Will increased meaningful environment-based learning lead to improved environmental stewardship and thus a healthier Chesapeake Bay watershed over the long-term?

  7. Evaluation: Preliminary Data • Preliminary data on teacher training • Teachers more likely to initiate MWEEs with students • Teachers more confident in their ability to provide MWEEs for the students • Student results and a final report will be available early 2007 • Being reviewed by White House Academic Competitiveness Council

  8. Quantitative: Tracking • Coordinated by Education Workgroup • Defined consistent measurement • Collected and analyzed data • Implemented by state DOEs & DC Dept of Health • Developed and distributed voluntary surveys • Compiled and submitted data to CBP • Remaining challenges • Voluntary input • Long-term tracking participation • Double counting of students receiving MWEE • Quality vs. Quantity

  9. Tracking Results • Percent of school districts in Chesapeake Bay watershed that have curricula related to MWEEs: • Maryland 100% • Pennsylvania 100% • Virginia 100% • District of Columbia 100% Issue: All teachers may not be implementing this curriculum

  10. Tracking Results(continued) • Percent of students receiving a field experience during their K-12 education: • Maryland 96% • Pennsylvania 75% • Virginia 76% • District of Columbia 42% Issue: Not all field experiences meeting definition of MWEE

  11. Remaining Challenges • Individual classroom • Support from administrators • Scheduling • Comfort and Knowledge of environment • School/school division • Liability, security issues • Costs, fuel, buses • Easy access to suitable sites • Societal • Electronic age • Loss of open space • Connection to outdoors

  12. Accomplishments & Events • Chesapeake Academic Resources for Teachers Website (ChART) launched in November 2005 • A web-based clearinghouse containing 500+ teacher resources, field studies and professional development opportunities • Education Summit held in October 2005 • 120 teachers, policymakers, and providers attended • Leadership Forum to discuss MWEE implementation status

  13. Next Steps • Investigate the role of innovative technologies and electronic resources in support of Bay watershed education • Insert Jamestown and John Smith’s voyages into curricula and exhibits • Continue work with partners on MWEE evaluation and marketing

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