INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

The original needs assessment conducted for the PCEE, (Johnson & Dzuibek, 1997), revealed professional development to be the highest need for EE in the state of Pennsylvania. This need was identified by respondents in five affiliation groups, (business and industry, education, government, nongovernment, and others). PCEE selected professional development as one of its four core initiatives. One of the 1997-98 objectives for this initiative was to create a survey to determine the professional development needs of both formal and nonformal environmental educators in Pennsylvania.

GOALS

The two goals of the survey were: to collect opinions about the perceived needs in professional development for EE among current and potential environmental educators and others who may engage in EE teaching activities, and to augment the information collected through the original needs assessment for the PCEE (Johnson & Dzuibek, 1997).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The survey was conducted in the fall of 1997 and the spring/summer of 1998. The survey consisted of:

A telephone interview with executive committee members and their designates.
A questionnaire mailed to teachers.
A separate questionnaire mailed to nonformal educators.