Untitled Document
Environmental Education
Learn and Earn Computer Program
Funded by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Project Summary
Organization:
Inc., a 16-year old 501 (c) (3) organization, has a proven track record as an
environmental and charitable organization. It promotes reuse as a means of preventing
pollution from waste, improving communities, and increasing material, educational
and occupational well being of our citizens. Surplus collects discarded business
equipment and processes it for reuse. We have received local, statewide and
national recognition for our unique accomplishments. One of our most successful
reuse and education programs is The Learn & Earn Computer Education Program.
The program has a three-year proven history of success-to date, serving over
400 youth.
Summary Statement:
This project will bring ability to utilize environmental software and build
critical thinking skills. It will result in an increased public ability to make
informed environmental decisions. Nine schoolteachers will be trained on the
use of environmental software such as Lead in the Environment and Household
Waste Management and on environmental careers. They will assist 24 students
in using the environmental software to develop a project that responds to an
environmental health threat. Teachers will incorporate the environmental software
into their own school curriculum and classrooms. These trained educators will
in turn train 90 additional teachers who will have the ability to take the software
into their own classrooms. Using the Learn and Earn curriculum, 24 students
will practice reuse by building their own computer (to keep), of which 90 –
100% of the components are refurbished and thus diverted from the waste stream.
Building on this proven curriculum and utilizing the computers the students
have constructed, participants will develop critical thinking skills through
the use of environmental software. Youth participants will explore human health
threats from pollution and environmental careers via the Internet and will develop
a project that demonstrates their knowledge of environmental hazards such as
lead or other household contaminants, especially as they affect children. Students
will train at least 20 others for an immediate impact of 480 community members
having tools to minimize their exposure to environmental hazards. Projects will
be posted on the Internet for wide application.
Educational Priority:
This project will focus on the EPA Environmental Education Grants Fiscal Year
2000 educational priorities of: Environmental Justice, Health, Teaching Skills
and Career Development.
Delivery Method:
Teachers will receive a one-day training. Students will receive training over
10 days in a 2-week period. Surplus staff will train students on reuse and computer
building. Trained teachers will instruct the students in the environmental software.
Student presentations will take place in the community and via the Internet.
Audience:
The project will draw upon low income and/or culturally diverse middle and high
school students and educators from the two-state Kansas-Missouri area. 24 students
and 9 teachers will receive the initial training. Students will train minimally
480 students and adults from the same low income and/or culturally diverse communities.
Teachers will incorporate the environmental Internet resources into their curriculum
and train 90 additional teachers on the websites. Via student projects posted
on the Internet, hundreds of individuals will minimize their own exposure to
environmental hazards.