Term
Summer 2021
Capstone
Thesis
Degree Name
MAED: NSEE
Primary Advisor/Dissertation Chair
Andreas Schramm
Secondary Advisor/Reader One
Roberta Hunter
Peer-Reviewer/Reader Two
Katherine Ahnberg
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic that hit the United States in March 2020 quickly caused the entire nation to rethink how we work and how we approach education. Informal environmental education in particular faced unique challenges during this time yet found ways to adapt their educational programming. This thesis will explore the questions: How did organizations alter and adapt their programming to meet public health guidelines during the pandemic? and What successes and challenges did organizations face in offering these programs? To answer these questions, a survey was distributed to organizations that offer environmental education programs. Results echo and expand on the existing literature on pandemic education. Organizations offered many virtual programs both synchronously and asyncrounously and also found new ways to offer in person events. Programs that involved some interaction with other people and those that took place in person or outdoors were most successful, while asyncrounous virtual materials were considered less so. Organizations faced many challenges in offering programming including financial barriers, technology troubles, and difficulty staying current on public health recommendations. Despite the difficulties and learning losses, respondents felt there may have been some benefits to the changes in their programming and many will continue to offer their adapted programs in the future.
Research Methodology
Grounded Theory, Survey (attitude scale, opinion, questionnaire), Text Analysis
Keywords
environmental education, online learning, pandemic, COVID-19
Recommended Citation
Janz, Margaret, "Environmental Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic" (2021). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations. 4531.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_all/4531
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations