EDUCATION >>
UEI Education
UEI's Education Programs seek to increase youth interest in science and environmental stewardship through hands-on, inquiry-based urban ecological studies.
Follow the links for an introduction to our three program areas:
The UEI Field Studies program provides public school students with opportunities to engage in real-world scientific inquiry, increase their intellectual and social self-confidence, and take ownership of their local environment. To do this, UEI provides schools and teachers with the tools and training to teach urban ecology, enabling them to lead young people in ecological investigations that allow them to answer questions about the health of their environment. Students contribute to the practice of real science by sharing their data with researchers using citywide, online databases.
>> Learn More at the Field Studies Website
Curriculum Development
Through the development of curriculum units in six core concepts, UEI is creating opportunities for environmental educators to better provide urban ecology field studies for their students. The units fit into a wide range of academic subjects, including general science, biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science. UEI curricula are designed to seamlessly connect with standard science texts, with the goal to supplement existing classroom goals for teachers.
>> View the Individual Curriculum Units
Teacher Professional Development
For educators and youth development professionals teaching UEI's urban ecology curriculum units and engaging their students in ecological field studies, UEI offers a variety of professional development opportunities for teachers to enhance their instructional capacity. Opportunities include monthly workshops, each with a unique focus, and an annual summit bringing together students, educators, and environmental professionals in a collaborative effort to explore the biological and social aspects of urban ecosystems. Further, UEI’s professional development network links teachers with their colleagues in the area who are also doing urban ecology research with UEI.
>> UEI Professional Development Opportunities