[courses] Service Learning Work in Seattle Public Schools

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Education For Sustainability

EDUC 401K

SLN: 13689

Facilitators: Emy Gelb (emygelb@uw.edu) and Ashley Young (ashyoung@uw.edu)

  • Date/Time: Mondays 2-3:20pm

How do educators teach young people about the earth’s ecosystems and foster an ethic of environmental stewardship?What skills and ways of thinking are necessary to confront future change?

The seminar examines effective ways for educators to teach the meaning and importance of sustainability to the K-12 audience in formal and informal education settings. We will explore various philosophies, models and approaches to K-12 environmental education. In addition, students will volunteer in school classrooms and environmental community organizations in the Seattle area for at least 2.5 hours (2 credits) a week. 

Empowered Eco-Ed: Hands-On Teaching at Conchord International Elementary

EDUC 401Z

SLN 13698

Day/Time: Seminar: Thursdays 3-4:20pm  Service Learning: Fridays 3:30-7pm (includes travel time)

Location: LOW 217

Facilitator:  Angela Feng (afeng21@uw.edu)

Is it possible to instill a passion and appreciation for the environment in a classroom setting? Can students still engage with nature in an urban environment? The Empowered Eco-Education seminar seeks to provide an equal opportunity for environmental education to students from all backgrounds. Each week, students will have the opportunity to teach an after school program at Conchord International Elementary School in South Park, Seattle, to work with curriculum based in environmental justice and education. This seminar integrates hands-on activities and local environmental issues, working to inspire kids and ignite their enthusiasm for the outdoors. 

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PoE offering multiple new summer courses in 2013!

Registration open NOW

Checkout opportunities to explore the impacts of global change on the Olympic Peninsula, discover Pacific Northwest writers while traveling through the North Cascades, learn about the state of ‘green’ business and much more!

ENVIR 459: CULTURAL ECOLOGY AND POLITICS

This course will focus on the intersection of culture, ecology, and politics in the Seattle metropolitan area. We will explore the four cornerstones of Seattle’s economy – coffee, aerospace, the outdoor industry, and technologies. 

ENVIR 495A: NATURE WRITING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Using literary texts as primary guides, this experiential learning course will explore a variety of relationships between humans and the natural world in the Pacific Northwest over the last 200 years. Fieldtrips to the North Cascades and the Olympic Peninsula.

ENVIR 495B: BUSINESS AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Examine whether, how, and why companies should go “green” from Business Professor Tim Hargrave. Profits and the environment: tradeoff or win-win?

ENVIR 495C: ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETATION

Hands-on training in environmental interpretation for students interested in natural history, tourism and recreation. Includes a trip to Mt. Saint Helens NVM Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center. Option to earn NAI “Certified Interpretive Guide”through this course for an additional fee.

ENVIR 495D: GLOBAL CHANGE

Take a philosophical and scientific look at how the environment has changed in the distant and recent past, and what recent human imposed changes to the landscape mean for our future. The course format is an 8-day wilderness backpacking trip in the Olympic National Park.

ENVIR 500: SCIENCE WRITING FOR IMPACT

This class is designed to teach environmental scientists how to write about their field of study using broadly appealing prose. Class will include several guest appearances by leading national scientists who prioritize writing and communicating. **Open to undergraduate seniors and graduate students only.

JSIS 478 F Sustainability & Global Business – Spots open for PoE Students!

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JSIS 478 F Sustainability & Global Business – Spots open for PoE Students!

Spring 2013 JSIS 478 F, Sustainability and Global Business

Jeffrey Leinaweaver

TTh 10:30-12:20

Business and commerce have tremendous impact on the health of our environment and our society. Globalization of economic activities has created transnational corporations with tremendous power and influence. However, this era of great prosperity also has come with a great cost. Human activities are pushing well beyond the limits of what natural systems can sustain. The current system of commerce is demonstrably and inherently unsustainable. This course will look at concepts of sustainability in the context of global business. At the end of the course, students will have a thorough understanding of what sustainable choices are available to individuals, communities, and organizations. They will be able to evaluate strategies and trade-offs necessary for the transformation to a more sustainable and equitable global society. They will gain familiarity with systems thinking approaches and global implications of sustainable business challenges and solutions. Perhaps most importantly, they will have a defined context of what sustainability means in which to ground their position on these critical issues. Two weekly lectures, case studies and readings, emphasis on class presentations and team projects. This section for UW students will meet concurrently with another section for visiting international students in the Thematic Studies Abroad program.

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Passionate about Arctic Studies? If you are interested specifically in climate change and issues surrounding the arctic, this might be a good course for you.

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Spring 2013 ENVIR 480 Sustainability Studio– 5 credits
Topic:  Greening up UW’s investments

Can UW’s investments be green? Earn course credit and gain professional experience while contributing to a hot topic among universities across the country. In Spring 2013 ENVIR 480 Sustainability Studio, students will engage in applied research about the environmental and social impacts of their personal investments, as well as provide analysis and insight to a UW discussion about the topic.

Did you know…the UW has an investment portfolio of over two billion dollars? This includes endowment investments of almost $13 million in sustainable industries and almost $200 million in sustainable forest lands. The UW encourages ethical considerations in its investing decisions, and investing in Sudan or in tobacco companies is prohibited. Should environmental impacts be considered? Meanwhile, there is discussion at UW about establishing “greener” options including a sustainability revolving loan fund  for faculty and students to research campus sustainability solutions.

In ENVIR 480, we will explore  potential green investing strategies, and their social and economic implications, for the University of Washington.  Possible questions for student research projects include:

  • What strategies have other institutions used to green up their portfolios?
  • What are the likely financial, environmental and social consequences, both pro and con, of fossil fuel divestment? (a question being pushed by Bill McKibben, see http://gofossilfree.org/)
  • What are financial implications for low-income and minority students?
  • What are the possible financial returns of a sustainability revolving loan fund?
  • How can more innovative sustainability initiatives be funded?

Students will partner with high-level financial administrators at the University of Washington, such as the Treasury Office, as well as environmental economics experts.

SLN: 13747
Class Date/time: Tues/Thurs afternoons
Taught by Megan Horst, Teaching Associate in POE and pre-PhD in Urban Design and Planning
Open to all majors/no prerequisites- Only an interest in sustainability. Capped to maintain small class size.

To view past class reports and topics, please visit: http://depts.washington.edu/poeweb/students/fyi.html
For questions, please contact instructor: horstm@uw.edu

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The Faculty, Students, and Staff of PoE invite you to:

Join the PoE community for a weekly lunch series, featuring casual meal-time camaraderie, conversation and short presentations by members of our own community and beyond, on a wide-range of environmental topics.

If you like, register for 1 credit towards your Perspectives and Experiences requirement.  SLN #20973  Course Name:  ENVIR 495

Where:  PoE Commons

When:  Every Thursday, starting January 10th @ 12:30-1:30pm.

Any questions, please get in touch with:

Faculty Contact:  Tim Billo, timbillo@uw.edu

Staff Contact: Julie Johnston, juljohn@uw.edu

SAGE Contact: sage-poe@uw.edu