Assignments
All assignments must be completed and submitted to the secured D2L drop box or online discussion board by midnight Saturday unless otherwise noted.
There are three types of assignments used to evaluate your increase in knowledge and skills when teaching about the environment in the outdoors. There is one Head Outside, one Reading Reflection, and one Online Discussion required for each Unit. You can find the individual unit assignments within each respective unit, under Assignments on D2L, or by clicking on the links below.
1. Online Discussion assignments ask you to post a response to a given question or statement on the D2L discussion board. In addition to your post, please respond to at least one other classmate's post with personal impressions, reactions, or reflections. (5 points)
2. *Head Outside assignments ask you to complete a task outdoors and report observations in a short paper or essay. Upload this assignment to the D2L secured assignment drop box. (10 points)
3. *Reading Reflection assignments ask you to recall, analyze, generalize, predict, or evaluate information in a research article or other document and report reflections in a short paper or essay. Upload this assignment to the D2L secured assignment drop box. (10 points)
*The Unit 4 Head Outside and Reading Reflection assignments ask you to experience an outdoor education program in one of two ways. This assignment may be completed anytime during the course of TAEO and must be submitted no later than one week after the conclusion of the course. Along with the written portion of the assignment, please submit 2 or 3 digital pictures illustrating your participation. For a digital photo "how to," click here.Please choose one of the following based on your experience & confidence.
Track A (for those who are beginners)
Head Outside: Locate and visit an environmental education facility or nature center that conducts outdoor programs. NatureNet can help you locate environmental facilities in your area. Upload a detailed summary of the program including goals and description of activities to the D2L dropbox.
Reading Reflection: After observing or participating in such program, submit the following a reflection paper detailing strengths, weaknesses and overall achievement of the activity as it relates to teacher/learner needs, environmental topics, outdoor teaching strategies, and planning and preparation. Upload this assignment to the D2L dropbox.(or)
Track B (for those with some experience)
Head Outside: Locate & modify an outdoor learning activity or lesson. Conduct that activity with any group of individuals (class, your own children, neighbors, family members, etc.). Upload your lesson plan including goals, objectives and description of activities about environmental topics to the D2L dropbox.
Reading Reflection: After the outdoor program, submit a reflection paper on strengths, weaknesses and overall achievement of the activity as it relates to teacher/learner needs, environmental or natural history topics, outdoor teaching strategies, and planning and preparation. Upload this assignment to the D2L dropbox.Grading Scale & Assignment Rubrics
Unit 1 Assignments Due: Saturday, March 7th by 12:00am
Unit 2 Assignments Due: Saturday, March 14th by 12:00am
Unit 3 Assignments Due: Saturday, March 21st by 12:00am
Unit 4 Assignments Due: Saturday, April 4th by 12:00am (you get one extra week to complete this assignment because it may take additional scheduling and time).