Term

Summer 2021

Capstone

Thesis

Degree Name

MAED: NSEE

Primary Advisor/Dissertation Chair

Patty Born

Secondary Advisor/Reader One

Victoria Jari

Peer-Reviewer/Reader Two

Karen Harrison

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources School Forest Program through answering the following questions: what are the strengths and limitations of the School Forest Program; What are the impacts of individual teacher objectives on the utilization and implementation of the School Forest Program? These questions were investigated using data collected from a survey sent to School Forest Coordinators as well as a data request to the Department of Natural Resources. This study found that participants in the School Forest Program feel that their School Forests add many positive benefits to their classrooms and feel supported by the School Forest Program. The findings also showed that School Forests are highly adaptable learning environments that are serving schools in a large variety of ways. Survey respondents indicated that their School Forests serve multiple age groups, topics, and functions.

Research Methodology

Document Studies (secondary analyses of public documents, national data sets), Survey (attitude scale, opinion, questionnaire)

Keywords

Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Motivation, Science, Special Education

dc_type

text

dc_publisher

DigitalCommons@Hamline

dc_format

application/pdf

dc_source

School of Education Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

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