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Environmental Issues Instruction (eii)

Preparing PreK-14 teachers to teach environmental issues

Workshop Registration

About Upper Iowa University’s eii Program

Environmental Issues Instruction (eii) is an affordable, graduate-level professional development program that helps PreK–14 educators teach about environmental issues.

Participants complete an in-person, hands-on summer workshop, followed by a virtual update session via Zoom.

UIU has been Iowa’s home for eii education since 2010. eii lessons and activities are high quality and rooted in an established, research-based model and aligns with Iowa academic standards.

Contact Information

Dr. Barbara Ehlers

eii Director
Science Education Grants Manager

[email protected]
(563) 920-3815
B.A., Wartburg College
M.A., University of Northern Iowa
Ed. D., University of Northern Iowa

2025-2027 eii Workshops

Environmental Issues Instruction (EII) and Upper Iowa University present “Learning and Living in a Changing Climate” Workshops — To be held in 2025-2027

“Learning and Living In A Changing Climate” is an interdisciplinary, undergraduate or graduate level college credit course for all teachers PreK-14 and other environmental educators.

Workshop III

  • In-Person Workshop Dates: June 4, 2026
  • Location: Caroll, IA
  • Zoom Update Session: TBD
Register

Workshop IV

  • In-Person Workshop Dates: October 24, 2026
  • Location: West Burlington, IA
  • Zoom Update Session: TBD
Register

2025-2027 eii Workshop Details

Costs

2025-2027 eii Registration Fees: eii Workshops are now free for teachers.

This is made possible by support from granting agencies

Curriculum

Course: EDU 461/561: Environmental Issues Instruction: Learning and Living in a Changing Climate

Two hours of undergraduate or graduate credit from Upper Iowa University

Course Expectations:
  • Attend two sessions-initial and update:
  • Modeling of instructional levels
  • Sharing the teaching experience
  • Develop and teach unit between initial and update sessions
  • Give evidence of student action
  • Administer student assessment (pre-post)
  • Prepare written report of experience

Issue: How has our climate changed?

The eii Model

eii Teaching Model

Instructional Model:

  • I – Issue Analysis
  • II – Ecological Foundations
  • III – Energy Issues
  • IV – Responsible Environmental Action
Circular diagram illustrating four levels of environmental inquiry. Level I: 'What is an issue?' Level II: 'What knowledge base is needed to understand the environmental problem?' Level III: 'What are the issues?' Level IV: 'What is the plan for responsible environmental action?' Arrows form a clockwise loop indicating a continuous cycle.

eii Teaching Model Diagram

The Eii model utilizes:
  • Next Generation Science Standards
  • STEM-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
  • Project-Based Teaching and Learning
  • Framework for K-12 Science Cross-Cutting Concepts
  • Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning
  • Iowa Core Characteristics of Effective Instruction
  • Differentiated Instruction
  • The Learning Cycle/5E’s
Thematic Integration of:
  • Environmental Education
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Reading
  • Social Studies
  • Language Arts
  • Fine Arts
  • Physical Education

Previous Workshop Themes

2021-2023

  • Nourishing Our Water and Soil Through Sustainable Agriculture

2018-2020

  • Water Connects Us All

2016-17

  • Food, Farming, and Climate Change

2015-16

  • Soil: The Earth Beneath Our Feet

2014-15

  • Energy Systems of the Prairie

2013-14 

  • Preserving and Protecting Our Water Resources

2012-13

  • Wildlife of Prairie Roadsides

2011-12

  • Rain, Runoff, and Rivers: Understanding Watersheds

Prior Years

  • Tropical Rain Forest
  • Global Climate Change
  • Polar Issues
  • Solid Waste Management
  • Feeding the World
  • Ecological Foundations Enhancement
  • Preserving Biodiversity: Endangered Species
  • Valuing Our Wetlands
  • Urban Wetlands
  • Exploring Climate Change
  • Climate Change: Weather, Climate, and Me
  • Feeding the World in a Changing Climate (REDI)
  • Species Loss in a Changing Climate (TEDI)
  • Biomes in a Changing Climate (TEDI+)
  • Forests in a Changing Climate (TEDI III)
  • Iowa’s Tropical Birds
  • Iowa’s Roadside Prairies
  • Iowa’s Roadside Native Communities: Savanna
  • Iowa’s Roadside Native Communities: Wet Prairies
  • Investigating Iowa Prairies
An eii participant notices a large insect while doing field work in a prairie

Support for eii

eii’s affordable registration fee is made possible by funding support from the following granting angencies:

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Iowa Resource Enhancement and Protection – Conservation Education Program (REAP-CEP)
  • Upper Iowa University

Meet the Team

barb-ehlers-21

Dr. Barb Ehlers

Eii Director
Science Education Grants Manager
Upper Iowa University

(563) 920-3815

Cathryn-Carney

Cathryn Carney

Eii Associate Director
Science Teacher
Boyden-Hull High School

Jeff-Monteith

Jeff Monteith

Eii Associate Director
K-12 Extended Learning Program Teacher
New Hampton Schools, New Hampton, Iowa

Paul Skrade_Cropped

Dr. Paul Skrade

Eii Instructor
Associate Professor of Biology
Upper Iowa University

Upper Iowa University
Fayette, Iowa
800-553-4150
[email protected]
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