eeCredentials
The eeCredentials program is designed to provide online, easy-to-access, and ongoing professional development opportunities for environmental educators through online courses, known as eeCourses. We offer a variety of eeCourses, each of which has a different focus and objective specifically designed for environmental educators. Each eeCourse lasts 4 - 6 weeks, with specific module due dates and group Zoom discussion sessions.
SPRING 2023 SCHEDULE & REGISTRATION
Session 3 | April 24 - May 22
Mon, Apr 24KAEE MoodleThis course is designed to provide educators with knowledge of important ecological principles within an Appalachian Mountain context. Throughout the course, fieldwork requirements are embedded to allow participants to gain firsthand experience.
SUMMER 2023 SCHEDULE
June 5 - July 17
Registration will open this Spring!
Courses available during the summer session will include:​
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ENV220: Water Quality in KY
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EE501: Academic Standards & EE
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EE201: Foundations in Teaching EE*
*Dual-credit with EKU available - required in-person workshop at Maywoods, July 24-25
*Contact Dr. Kelly Watson at kelly.watson@eku.edu for enrollment information.
FALL 2023 SCHEDULE
Session 1 | August 14 - September 25
Registration will open this Summer!
Courses available during Fall session 1 will include:​
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CEG301: Sound EE Principles
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CEG101: Community Engagement Guidelines
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ENV240: Climate Education & Communication
Session 2 | October 16 - December 4
Registration will open this Summer!
Courses available during Fall session 2 will include:​
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CEG401: Capacity Building & Civic Action in EE
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CEG101: Community Engagement Guidelines
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JEDI101: Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in Environmental Education
“I loved the program! I feel so much more confident moving forward in my career with the tools provided in this program.”
-eeCredential Participant
eeCourses
eeCourses are the building blocks for earning eeCredentials. The eeCredentials program is designed with flexibility in mind. You can earn an eeCredential over time or just focus on the eeCourses that interest you with no requirement to earn an eeCredential.
With more in the works, we currently offer 11 eeCourses. eeCourses are intended to build key competencies in a particular subject or focus area. Each one operates asynchronously outside of a minimum of 3 required group Zoom sessions. Courses are designed and will require a total time commitment of 12-15 hours over a period of six weeks.
eeCourses include a variety of tasks and assignments that are thoughtfully designed to engage participants in active learning experiences. All of our eeCourses will be moderated by 1-2 professionals in the field. Throughout each course, participants record their work and responses in a provided digital course journal, which is submitted weekly upon completion. Course Moderators will provide feedback and grades for all submitted assignments and they will be available to answer questions regarding tasks or assignments. eeCourses are housed and administered through a web-based learning management system, Moodle.
​This program is meant to be flexible and meet the needs of professionals in the field of environmental education. Most courses operate fully online and asynchronously with the exception of pre-scheduled and required Zoom meetings. Each course syllabus includes an outline of the scheduled calls and module deadlines.
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Dual-credit opportunities
A partnership between KAEE and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) gives students the opportunity to earn dual credit for a combination of courses in teaching environmental education. To learn more about this option, click here.
eeCredentials
Given our current eeCourse offerings, there are two eeCredentials that can be earned. eeCredentials can be earned over time. Think of an eeCredential as a micro-credential or a certificate that can be earned by completing a series of courses, designed to increase your knowledge and skills in a certain area. eeCourses are the building blocks for earning eeCredentials. If you are interested in building your own eeCredential using a combination of our eeCourses, reach out to brittany@kaee.org.
This eeCredential is designed to build the capacity of its participants to host high-quality environmental education workshops and equip them with the skills needed to be a leader in the field of environmental education and professional learning. Participants who earn this eeCredential also become certified KAEE Facilitators. Our facilitators create a powerful network of educators who not only offer environmental education training to their community but also help to propel environmental literacy across the state.
REQUIRED eeCOURSES
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EE201 - Foundations in Teaching Environmental Education
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EE301 - Core Curriculum Program Training
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EE401 - KAEE Facilitator Training
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Elective
CULMINATING PROJECT
Once all four courses (including the elective) are completed, you will be expected to co-facilitate a curriculum educator project. You have one year from the completion of the PLL eeCredential to plan and co-facilitate the workshop. This workshop could be online or in-person.
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PROFESSIONAL LEARNING LEADERS
Henrietta Sheffel, KAEE Facilitator | 2021
Gail Becraft, CCCD Nature Center | 2021
Rhonda Lamb, JPF, Four Rivers Basin Coordinator | 2022
Annie Griggs, LFUCG | 2022
Pony Meyer, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill | 2022
Dan Pascucci, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest | 2022
Marsha Hart, Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery | 2022
Jennifer Beach, Kenton County Public Library | 2022
“I've planted a lot of seeds, but they're only just beginning to sprout after all that work. And that's cool. I realize now that that's the whole point of this program. You're not going pull off some fantastic event and be ‘one and done.’ It's a process of relationship building that will continue, hopefully, for as long as I’m doing environmental education.”
-Roberta Burnes, Green Community Leader
This credential is designed to equip participants with the skills needed to collaborate with their community to help address the environmental issues they face. Through the coursework, you will explore a new array of settings, partnerships, and opportunities to take your work more fully into communities. The goal of community engagement is to strengthen the foundations of well-being—environmental quality, social equity, shared prosperity, and the capacity to pursue these goals together.
REQUIRED eeCOURSES
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CEG201 + CEG202 - Community Centered Environmental Education
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CEG301 - Sound Environmental Education Principles
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JEDI101 - Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Environmental Education
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CEG401 - Capacity Building & Long Term Change
CULMINATING PROJECT
Community Environmental Education Action Plan: Through the course work assignments, you will step by step design a Community Environmental Education Action Plan that can be implemented in partnership with your community to support ecological integrity, shared prosperity and social equity.
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GREEN COMMUNITY LEADERS
Roberta Burnes, Division for Air Quality | 2022
Dual Credit
In partnership with the EKU Division of Natural Areas, participants can complete specific eeCourses and earn undergraduate or graduate credit hours through Eastern Kentucky University. At least two opportunities for earning this credit will be available in 2023! Stay tuned for more.
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Spring 2023: BIO 500/700
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Complete ENV202 - Environmental Issues
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Summer 2023: REC 590/790
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Complete EE201 + Attend EE Bootcamp (July 24-25, Maywoods)​
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Contact Dr. Kelly Watson at kelly.watson@eku.edu for enrollment information or for questions, contact Brittany Wray at brittany@kaee.org.
