Date of Award
May 2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Committee Member
Robert B Powell
Committee Member
Brett A Wright
Committee Member
Marc J Stern
Committee Member
Brandon T Frensley
Abstract
To assess the training needs of environmental educators, a survey was designed and distributed to members of environmental education organizations. This survey included a list of 28 professional competencies representing five overarching areas that was compiled with a team of professionals and practitioners and informed by the North American Association for Environmental Education’s (NAAEE) Guidelines for Excellence (2019). Respondents to the survey were asked to rate each professional competency in terms of 1.) how important they think it is, and 2.) how well prepared they feel to perform it in their current position as an environmental educator. These two scores were used to create a Mean Weighted Discrepancy Score which measured the “gap” between importance and preparedness to perform. Competency items and areas with larger Mean Weighted Discrepancy Scores indicate a greater need for more high-quality training. Our results showed that environmental educators have the greatest need for increased and enhanced training in the areas of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and communicating about complex and controversial issues. We also found that environmental educators have different training needs based on their age and their level of experience. This information can be used by environmental education organizations and providers to prioritize professional development that will benefit their employees the most.
Recommended Citation
Banister Woods, Laura, "Professional Development Needs Assessment for Environmental Educators" (2021). All Theses. 3523.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/3523