Course Description
Educational, drama, and citizen science theory applied to experiential learning activities for pro-environmental actions. Live animals are used as teaching tools to improve linguistic skills through storytelling. Implement and evaluate an event involving special needs youth to measure the impact of language on students’ understanding of the human condition.
Athena Title
Teaching with Animals
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following: Apply environmental education theories of experiential learning and drama theory to move an audience from environmental awareness to pro-environmental action. Safely use live animals as teaching tools while applying linguistic skills such as sense engagement through storytelling in community outreach situations. Evaluate the teaching effectiveness of educators using experiential learning and drama theory. Reduce apprehension toward public speaking in formal (classroom) and non-formal (outdoor) settings. Develop a Wildlife Exhibition Educational Plan suitable for submission to a state Department of Natural Resources to legally acquire animals to use in teaching. Plan for, implement, and evaluate an outreach event involving special needs youth where live animals are used as teaching tools to discern the impact of the written and spoken word upon students’ understanding of the human condition. Lead a campfire presentation for youth and adults in an outdoor camp environment using place-based education principles. Develop a training video for volunteers interested in assisting an educator who is teaching with live animals.
Topical Outline
Theory of Environmental Education a. History and objectives of environmental education b. Teaching with reptiles and amphibians Theory of Teaching Methods a. A comparison of formal, non-formal, and informal educational methods b. Methods for engaging an audience in different educational settings c. Characteristics of effective educators and teaching techniques d. Managing stress and anxiety before and during a presentation e. Engaging learner senses during a presentation f. Teaching with invertebrates g. Developing measurable educational objectives h. Evaluating great teaching—developing a guest speaker scoring rubric i. Teaching learners with special needs j. Training volunteers to teach with animals using an educational video Leadership Skill Development a. Understanding problem-solving styles as a teaching team member Experiential Learning Activities a. Developing a Wildlife Exhibition Educational Plan b. Experiential learning methods before and after interacting with live animals c. Outdoor teaching in a camp setting d. Working with volunteers in zoo, aquarium, and nature center settings e. Implementing a Wildlife Exhibition Educational Plan in class f. Implementing a Wildlife Exhibition Educational Plan during an outreach visit with special needs youth
Syllabus