Resource Development Projects

CRS works with informal education organizations to improve teacher use and impact on students. We provide consulting services to:

• identify teacher interests and unmet needs related to specific areas of science
• develop and refine enrichment programs and outreach techniques
• train employees or docents delivering programs
• identify related programs in service area and collaboration opportunities
• support the development of new curriculum and other pre- and post materials
• improve teacher training outcomes with planning skills and post-workshop support

"I appreciate your thoroughness as well as the thought you put into outlining next steps for environmental education providers, both in working with teachers and in improving their programs."

Support for Development of Programs, Materials, and Staff

Bay Area Air Quality Management District; Teacher team revision of final Protect Your Climate curriculum on air pollution, energy and global climate change, Summer 2008

Bay Area Air Quality Management District; Facilitation of teacher focus group for review of draft Protect Your Climate curriculum and support for review and expansion of pilot project, October 2007

StopWaste.Org; Dissemination of results of literature review, Impact of Environmentally-Based Education on Academic Achievement to improve environmental education impacts and outreach, Spring 2007

StopWaste.Org; Review and editing of new curriculum, 4Rs Teacher Guide, September 2005

Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX; Workshops to for environmental educators on measuring learning outcomes from student programs, Fall 2004

The Watershed Project; Professional development program evaluation, Spring 2004

Oakland Museum; Support for development of field trip and in-class programs related to Natural History collection and recommendations to improve outreach materials, Spring 2003

Cultural Connections; Presentation of pre- and post- materials needs of elementary teachers, February 2003

California Coastal Commission; Workshop for Education Department staff to develop model for state-wide scientist volunteer training program, November 2001

Chabot Space and Science Center; Facilitation of teacher focus group for design input to permanent exhibit, February 2001

East Bay Regional Parks; Workshop to train EBRP naturalists on refining programs and materials to meet elementary teachers’ needs, February 2000.

Support for Community Professional Development Offerings

Teachers say they find it difficult to integrate the great ideas they get in workshops once they return to the classroom. CRS provides workshops combined with Teacher Membership Services for individual teachers as part of the professional development offerings from different enrichment and professional development organizations, including:

• Bay Area Science Project, Enriching Your Lessons with Local Science Resources
• Chabot Space and Science Center, Using Local Resources to Build Integrated Science Lessons, August 2002 and 2004
• The Watershed Project, Using Environmental Experiences to Meet the State Standards; Summers of 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008
• Cesar Chavez Service Learning Project, Integrating Service Learning Projects and Student Assessment into Lesson Plans, Fall of 2005, 2006, and 2007