Targeting Excellence: Aligning Alaskan Environmental Education with Standards.

Overview & Synopsis

This guide was developed to encourage excellence in education, help educators meet standards, and integrate environmental education programs into school district curricula in Alaska. Educational activities are active, inquiry-based, interdisciplinary, and connected to real-world applications. The following evaluation criteria for standards-based environmental education materials and programs are included with evaluation worksheets: (1) usability; (2) instructional soundness; (3) depth and focus on concepts; (4) inquiry and skill building; (5) action-oriented project applications; and (6) fairness and accuracy of materials. This guide primarily concentrates on science standards. Important ecological concepts such as diversity and interdependence, and science skills such as inquiry are addressed in environmental education. These form the foundation needed to engage in environmental issue analysis and problem solving. (KHR)