Reorienting training in the time of Covid-19 and social justice movements

Abstract

Covid-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement have changed the social and political landscape in which environmental educators work. To meet these challenges and to assess current training needs, we invited members of three national U.S. organizations to rate 28 different professional competencies in terms of importance and preparedness to perform. Our results showed that educators have the greatest need for training in diversity, equity, and inclusion; and communicating about complex and controversial issues. Additionally, environmental educators prefer training that is delivered through in-person exercises, online courses, and participation in learning communities. This information can help prioritize future professional development.

Keywords:

• Professional development, Training
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• environmental education

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), the Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA), the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), and their U.S. state affiliate networks for distributing this survey to its members and the environmental education practitioners who spent their valuable time during a global pandemic responding to the survey.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the National Science Foundation’s Advancing Informal STEM Education program (DRL 1906610). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.