NASA Innovations In Climate Education

“Building a Diverse Green Workforce: Integrating Climate Change Education into Community College

Green Career Education and Training”

Gloria Mwase, Jobs for the FutureJulian Keniry, National Wildlife FederationMila Simeonovska, Wilbur Wright College

June 28, 2012

GREENFORCE INITIATIVE: refining pathways leading to green sector careers for low-

income workers and young adults

The Greenforce

initiative

Bank of America Charitable Foundation, CS Mott

Foundation,NASA

2

“Building a Diverse Green Workforce”PROJECT GOALS EXPECTED OUTCOMES

1. Enhance instructor preparedness to address climate change science in various workforce curricula

Better prepared faculty: 9+ faculty at 3-4 community colleges learn about new resources and receive PD on evidence-based instructional approaches

2. Strengthen adult learner green STEM career education to support development of workers with climate change science knowledge

Better informed students and workers: 180+ students increase their knowledge of climate change science, its impact on selected occupations

3. Expand awareness of STEM or climate change science-related careers for community college students

Stronger redesigned courses; greater visibility of climate change science issues. Climate change science-infused courses draw link between environment and work and are more attractive to students.

4. Adapt and disseminate curricula and other products that incorporate NASA resources and tools.

New curricular resources and tools: Modified curricula, instructional guides and other resources disseminated to field.

Partners

• Jobs for the Future • National Wildlife Federation Community Colleges: • Edgecombe Community College (NC) • Wayne County Community College District (Detroit, MI) • Wilbur Wright College (Chicago, IL) Evaluator: • Elisabeth Barnett, Columbia University Science and Curriculum Advisors: • NASA staff: Jeannie Allen, Brian Campbell, Holli Riebeek, Paul

Stackhouse • The National Council for Science and the Environment • Michelle Zurawski, Moraine Valley Community College

Key Activities

Piloting New Curricula Modules and Tools -Fall 2012/Spring 2013• Student pre and post assessments• New curricula modules building on Climate Change

Connections• STEM Career exploration modules• Use of CAMEL online platform for faculty and student

engagementFaculty Professional Development• Monthly engagement to support curricula changes and pilots• Two College-based Institutes in 2013 to expand adoptionDocumentation and DisseminationEvaluation

Greenforce and Wright College CollaborationThree faculty were chosen to participate in the Climate Change enhancing curriculum project

The project started in Biology 121, Chemistry 121, and Environmental Biology classes

Each faculty member started with an assignment, which incorporated data from MY NASA DATA website

Greenforce and Wright College CollaborationBenefits:Increase Climate Change literacyProvide an opportunity for our students to be

exposed to “real life” experienceApply the acquired knowledge and suggest

climate change solutionsImprove student learning and engagement

Questions?

For More Information:

Gloria Cross Mwasegmwase@jff.org

TEL 617.728.4446 FAX 617.728.4857 88 Broad Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02110

WWW.JFF.ORG