38 Appendix IV: Summary Checklist for Environmental Education Materials: Guidelines for Excellence These guidelines offer a way of judging the relative merit of different materials. As you work your way through the Guidelines, rate each educational resource you are reviewing on a scale of 1 to 5 (1=poor, 5=excellent) according to how well it meets the indicators for each key characteristic. 1. Fairness and accuracy: EE materials should be fair and accurate in describing environmental problems, issues, and
conditions, and in reflecting the diversity of perspectives on them. 1.1 Factual accuracy ____ 1.2 Balanced presentation of differing viewpoints and theories ____ 1.3 Openness of inquiry ____ 1.4 Reflection of diversity ____ 2. Depth: EE materials should foster awareness of the natural and built environment, and understanding of environ-
mental concepts, conditions, and issues, and an awareness of the feelings, values, attitudes, and perceptions at the
heart of environmental issues, as appropriate for different developmental levels. 2.1 Awareness ____ 2.2 Focus on concepts ____ 2.3 Concepts in context ____ 2.4 Attention to different scales ____ 3. Emphasis on skills building: EE materials should build lifelong skills that enable learners to prevent and address
environmental issues. 3.1 Critical and creative thinking ____ 3.2 Applying skills to issues ____ 3.3 Action skills ____ 4. Action orientation: EE materials should promote civic responsibility, encouraging learners to use their knowledge,
personal skills, and assessments of environmental issues as a basis for environmental problem solving and action. 4.1 Sense of personal stake and responsibility ____ 4.2 Self-efficacy ____ 5. Instructional soundness: EE materials should rely on instructional techniques that create an effective learning
environment. 5.1 Learner-centered instruction ____ 5.2 Different ways of learning ____ 5.3 Connection to learners’ everyday lives ____ 5.4 Expanded learning environment ____ 5.5 Interdisciplinary ____ 5.6 Goals and objectives ____ 5.7 Appropriateness for specific learning settings ____ 5.8 Assessment ____ 6. Usability: EE materials should be well designed and easy to use. 6.1 Clarity and logic ____ 6.2 Easy to use ____ 6.3 Long-lived ____ 6.4 Adaptable ____ 6.5 Accompanied by instruction and support ____ 6.6 Make substantiated claims ____ 6.7 Fit with national, state, or local requirements ____ TOTAL ____ Source: North American Association for Environmental Education. (1996).
Environmental Education Materials: Guidelines for Excellence.
Troy, OH: North American Association for Environmental Education.