Transforming student learning through watershed experiences

VCU School of Education and VCU Life Sciences recently hosted the final Environmental Literacy Teacher Workshop at VCU Rice Rivers Center

In the foreground, teachers tested for nitrates while SOE's Elizabeth Edmondson, Ph.D., tested the river water for turbidity in the background. (Courtesy photo)
In the foreground, two teachers tested the river water for nitrates while SOE's Elizabeth Edmondson, Ph.D. (center), tested it for turbidity. (Courtesy photos)

The VCU School of Education, along with our partners in VCU Life Sciences, hosted its final Environmental Literacy Teacher Workshop on September 24 and 25, 2021, at the VCU Rice Rivers Center, as part of a three-year National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Bay Watershed and Education Training (B-WET) grant titled Bivalves as Ecosystems Sustaining Treasures (BEST) in Bay Watersheds.

Delivered in cooperation with our collaborators at the Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery, middle school teachers from Charles City County Public Schools, Colonial Heights Public Schools, Newport News Public Schools, and New Kent County Public Schools engaged in hands-on investigations in water quality testing, online watershed simulations, onsite field investigations and virtual role-play experiences, in addition to in-depth tours exploring the roles and importance that bivalves (oysters and mussels) play in sustaining their local watershed ecosystems.

The initiative will transform students’ understanding of the importance of protecting their local watershed along the James River in Virginia as teachers translate their learning experiences for their students across the school year infusing lessons in their classrooms. NOAA uses the framework of a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) that includes students participating in local field investigation, identifying a major issue from their observations and data collection, and implementing a stewardship action project that is informed by their findings. Example action projects may include efforts such as cleaning up a local stream, reducing run-off in storm water drains or agricultural areas through community awareness campaigns, or even assisting in oyster shell recycling initiatives.

VCU Life Sciences graduate students Julia Josephs and Nina Brundle, under the guidance of Ms. Sue Kirk, the VCU project coordinator, and principal investigators will provide on-going support for the classrooms and teachers this year through the following efforts:

  • Set-up and establishment of mussel and oyster tanks in classrooms
  • Supporting the delivery of hands-on lessons and local MWEE stewardship action projects for students
  • Sustaining the efforts for the schools beyond the grant through advising, presenting and helping school seek and secure local external funding sources

“We are delighted to leverage the VCU expertise in environmental science and science education to support the teachers across the four participating school districts,” said Al S. Byers, Ph.D., principal investigator of the effort who leads VCU’s Center for Innovation in STEM Education. The teachers’ enthusiasm for the effort is truly inspiring and contagious.” Byers was joined by co-principal investigators: Elizabeth Edmondson, Ph.D., in the School of Education’s Department of Teaching and Learning; James Vonesh, Ph.D., assistant director of the VCU Center for Environmental Studies; and Greg Garman, Ph.D., director of the VCU Rice Rivers Center.

At left: Greg Garman, Ph.D., director of the Rice Rivers Center, welcomed visitors to the center. At right, James Vonesh, Ph.D., assistant director of the Center for Environmental Studies, shares the impact of stream sediment on sustaining mussel populations.
At left: Greg Garman, Ph.D., director of the Rice Rivers Center, welcomed visitors to the center. At right, James Vonesh, Ph.D., assistant director of the Center for Environmental Studies, shared the impact of stream sediment on sustaining mussel populations.

“The program developed by Virginia Commonwealth University in partnership with the school divisions sets the bar high for what environmental literacy can look like for students,” said Elise Trelegan, B-WET program coordinator with the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office. “Teachers are trained in both the pedagogy and content, while developing their confidence using the outdoors as an essential laboratory for learning. This sets up a frame of sustainability, where teachers have the knowledge, skills and self-efficacy to facilitate the MWEE with their students. Importantly, VCU has also included a focus on division-wide sustainability by building the capacity of school leaders to continue to ensure that every student has a MWEE for years to come.”

We are also honored to have the support of the STEM leadership at the state level that includes Anne Petersen, Ph.D., science coordinator for the Virginia Department of Education; Virginia STEM Coordinator Chuck English; and U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin from Virginia’s 4th District. Together we can ensure Virginia is for All Learners!

“One goal of education in the state of Virginia is to develop a cadre of scientifically literate graduates that have the capacity to make informed decisions about their environment. Through programs such as the Transforming Student Learning through MWEE Experiences provided by VCU, teachers learn to integrate the Scientific and Engineering Practices and environmental concepts to provide relevant, robust learning experiences for their students. These experiences, combined with the skills needed to understand and interpret environmental issues in their community, will provide a foundation that students will use to shape our communities and our world,” said Petersen.

Participating teachers for the 2021-2022 academic year include:

  • Sharon Andrews, Booker T. Washington MIddle School, Newport News Public Schools
  • Elana Turczynski, Booker T. Washington MIddle School, Newport News Public Schools
  • Grace Rivera, Booker T. Washington MIddle School, Newport News Public Schools
  • April Ham, Booker T. Washington MIddle School, Newport News Public Schools
  • Keisha Motley, Booker T. Washington MIddle School, Newport News Public Schools
  • Lori Eckert, New Kent Middle School, New Kent County Public Schools
  • Elizabeth Day, New Kent Middle School, New Kent County Public Schools
  • Sara Fleenor, New Kent Middle School, New Kent County Public Schools
  • Tamika Hathaway, New Kent Middle School, New Kent County Public Schools
  • Maggie Will, Charles City Elementary School, Charles City County Public Schools
  • Carole Bennet, Colonial Heights Middle School, Colonial Heights Public Schools
  • Debbie Robinson, Colonial Heights Middle School, Colonial Heights Public Schools
  • Kathryn Howison, Colonial Heights Middle School, Colonial Heights Public Schools
  • Jennifer Rainey, Colonial Heights Middle School, Colonial Heights Public Schools

View Flickr albums of teacher training at the VCU Rice Rivers Center:

The educator team  at the VCU Rice Rivers Center participated for two days of life science education training with professors, scientists and environmentalists in September 2021.
The educator team at the VCU Rice Rivers Center participated for two days of life science education training with professors, scientists and environmentalists in September.