Designing for Change: Environmental Education Research and Practice from edX

Environmental education (EE) research can create an essential foundation for enhancing and improving programs, and it can support high-quality, theoretically and empirically based evaluation. Engaging with academic research can help EE practitioners more effectively understand how people learn about the environment, connect with the natural world, develop environmental identities, build citizen-action skills, and envision their role as part of a social movement. .

Using strategies from Stanford’s design thinking school (“the d.school”), course participants will learn-by-doing through activities that foster innovative approaches to EE. The course teaches participants how to develop tailored solutions for integrating research into their own EE practice. Participants will leave the session with tools and resources for accessing and applying research.

This course is designed for a range of stakeholders in the EE space: field educators from local, regional, and national organizations; environmental educators who work in a range of settings such as schools, museums, aquaria, zoos, gardens, and parks, among others; funders; and other stakeholders who are interested in infusing their on-the-ground practice with research-informed perspectives.

Given the course’s focus on design thinking, participants are highly encouraged to take the course with a partner. The activities are organized as partner work in order to help participants reflect and gain a deeper understanding of their program needs.

This course was developed by members of Stanford’s Social Ecology Lab led by Professor Nicole Ardoin, including Dr. Mele Wheaton, Dr. Stephanie Rafanelli, Emily Williams, and Marika Jaeger. The course team members are researchers as well as long-time educators working in both formal and informal learning institutions. This course was designed because the Social Ecology Lab work is dedicated to helping make academic research more accessible and usable for educators in a variety of settings.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to pinpoint the change you want in your program
How to interview stakeholders to help you refine your needs
How to find research that’s relevant to your work

How to use transferable design-thinking tools and strategies for applying research findings to your work
How to create a prototype that addresses a change in your work based on the most-applicable research findings
In this course, you will learn the following:

How to pinpoint the change you want in your program
How to interview stakeholders to help you refine your needs
How to find research that’s relevant to your work
How to use transferable design-thinking tools and strategies for applying research findings to your work
How to create a prototype that addresses a change in your work based on the most-applicable research findings
In this course, you will learn the following:

Syllabus

Module 1: Setting the Stage

Module 2: Defining Research

Module 3: Selecting Your Spark

Module 4: Interviewing for Insight

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Supports EE practitioners in learning how people connect with nature, build identities relevant to the environment, & envision social movement roles

Offers hands-on activities using strategies from Stanford's “the d.school” to foster innovative approaches to EE

Provides tools & resources to access & use research in EE practice

Tailored for EE field educators, environmental educators in diverse settings, & stakeholders with interest in research-informed practice

Encourages taking the course with a partner for enhanced understanding through reflection & deeper analysis of program needs

Developed by the Stanford Social Ecology Lab with members who are experienced researchers & educators in various settings

Reviews summary

Research-informed ee program design

According to learners, this course provides a practical and research-backed approach to environmental education, emphasizing design thinking strategies to enhance programs. Students gain transferable tools for applying academic research to their own practice, learning to pinpoint desired changes, interview stakeholders, and create prototypes. The course's learn-by-doing activities encourage an innovative mindset, making academic insights accessible for on-the-ground application.

Structured for collaborative learning, encouraging deeper reflection and understanding through teamwork.

"Working with a partner helped me reflect on my program needs and gain deeper insights into application."

"The partner work was essential for truly grasping and applying the design thinking concepts effectively in a practical setting."

"I appreciated the structured opportunity to collaborate and receive feedback on the prototyping activities."

Offers a credible, academically-backed framework for program enhancement.

"The course's foundation in academic research from Stanford's Social Ecology Lab gave me a highly valuable perspective."

"It helped me understand how high-quality, empirically based evaluation can fundamentally improve environmental programs."

"I learned a structured way to access and apply relevant research findings to my work, which was previously daunting."

Focuses on applying research and design thinking to real-world environmental education challenges.

"I appreciated learning how to apply research directly to my environmental education programs and make tangible changes."

"The design thinking tools provided actionable strategies for developing tailored solutions for my specific needs."

"I can now confidently infuse my on-the-ground practice with research-informed perspectives, thanks to this course."

Provides a methodological framework for change, rather than deep dives into specific EE content.

"I found the course excellent for learning the process of design thinking and research application, less for specific environmental content areas."

"It's a strong guide for structuring change, but learners should be aware it assumes you'll bring your own specific research topics and context."

"The primary focus is on 'how to' apply research methods and frameworks, not necessarily 'what' environmental research to apply in granular detail."

Requires willingness to engage with theoretical and empirical research concepts.

"While highly valuable, some of the academic research concepts required focused attention if you're not regularly engaging with scholarly articles."

"It challenged me to think about environmental research more deeply than I typically do in my day-to-day practice."

"The course truly bridges the gap between theory and practice, but it's not a superficial overview of research methods."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Designing for Change: Environmental Education Research and Practice with these activities:

Find an EE mentor

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Find an experienced EE professional to provide guidance and support.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Identify the areas in which you need support.
Find an EE mentor who has experience in those areas.
Contact your potential mentor and ask for their guidance

Volunteer with an EE organization

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Gain hands-on EE experience and make a difference in your community.

Browse courses on Volunteering

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Find an EE organization that you are interested in.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Complete the volunteer application process.

Attend Design Thinking Harvard course

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Learn the principles of design thinking from the experts at Harvard Business School.

Browse courses on Design Thinking

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Create a Harvard account if you haven't already.
Enroll in the Design Thinking on EdX course.
Complete the course at your own pace.

Six other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all nine activities

Read Make Just One Change by Dan Heath and Chip Heath

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Learn about the principles of behavior change and how to apply them to EE programs.

View Upstream on Amazon

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Read the book.
Identify the key principles of behavior change.
Consider how you can apply these principles to your EE programs.

Join an EE research community

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Connect with other EE researchers and practitioners to share ideas and learn from each other.

Browse courses on Environmental Education

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Find an EE research community online or in your area.
Join the community and participate in discussions.
Attend community events.

Practice applying design thinking to EE

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Apply the design thinking principles you learn in the Harvard course to real-world EE scenarios.

Browse courses on Design Thinking

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Identify a problem or opportunity in EE that you want to address.
Use the design thinking process to develop a solution.
Implement your solution and evaluate its impact.

Develop an EE research proposal

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Develop a research proposal to investigate a pressing issue in EE.

Browse courses on Research Proposal

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Identify a research question.
Conduct a literature review.
Develop a research design.
Write a research proposal.

Contribute to the EE toolbox

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Contribute to the development of open-source EE resources and tools.

Browse courses on Environmental Education

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Find an EE toolbox project that interests you.
Identify a way that you can contribute to the project.
Contact the project maintainers and offer your help.

Mentor an EE student or practitioner

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Share your EE knowledge and experience with others to help them grow and develop.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Find an EE student or practitioner who is looking for a mentor.
Agree on a mentoring relationship and goals.
Meet regularly to provide guidance and support.

Career center

Learners who complete Designing for Change: Environmental Education Research and Practice will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Environmental Educator

An Environmental Educator develops and delivers educational programs about the environment and sustainability. They may work in a variety of settings, such as schools, museums, nature centers, or government agencies. This course can help you become a more effective Environmental Educator by providing you with the skills to design and implement research-based educational programs. You will learn how to identify your target audience, develop learning objectives, and select appropriate teaching methods. You will also learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of your programs and make improvements based on your findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Educator

Sustainability Manager

A Sustainability Manager is responsible for developing and implementing sustainability programs for organizations. They may work in a variety of industries, such as business, government, or non-profit. This course can help you become a more effective Sustainability Manager by providing you with the skills to design and implement research-based sustainability programs. You will learn how to identify your organization's sustainability goals, develop a plan to achieve those goals, and track your progress. You will also learn how to communicate your sustainability initiatives to stakeholders and build support for your programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Environmental Policy Analyst

An Environmental Policy Analyst researches and analyzes environmental issues and develops policy recommendations. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course can help you become a more effective Environmental Policy Analyst by providing you with the skills to conduct research, analyze data, and develop policy recommendations. You will learn how to identify environmental problems, gather and analyze information, and develop policy options that are both effective and feasible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Policy Analyst

Climate Change Specialist

A Climate Change Specialist researches and analyzes the causes and effects of climate change. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course can help you become a more effective Climate Change Specialist by providing you with the skills to conduct research, analyze data, and develop adaptation and mitigation strategies. You will learn about the latest climate science, the impacts of climate change on different sectors of society, and the policy options available to address climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Change Specialist

Environmental Scientist

An Environmental Scientist conducts research on the natural environment and develops solutions to environmental problems. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course can help you become a more effective Environmental Scientist by providing you with the skills to conduct research, analyze data, and develop evidence-based solutions to environmental problems. You will learn about a variety of environmental issues, including air pollution, water pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

Natural Resources Manager

A Natural Resources Manager is responsible for managing natural resources, such as forests, water, and wildlife. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course can help you become a more effective Natural Resources Manager by providing you with the skills to develop and implement management plans, monitor natural resources, and restore degraded ecosystems. You will learn about a variety of natural resource management issues, including sustainable forestry, water conservation, and wildlife habitat protection.

See salaries and explore the career path for Natural Resources Manager

Urban Planner

An Urban Planner develops plans for the development and use of land in urban areas. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course can help you become a more effective Urban Planner by providing you with the skills to design and implement sustainable urban plans. You will learn about a variety of urban planning issues, including land use planning, transportation planning, and environmental planning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Environmental Lawyer

An Environmental Lawyer specializes in environmental law. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course can help you become a more effective Environmental Lawyer by providing you with the skills to understand and apply environmental laws. You will learn about a variety of environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Lawyer

Environmental Economist

An Environmental Economist applies economic principles to environmental issues. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course can help you become a more effective Environmental Economist by providing you with the skills to analyze the economic impacts of environmental policies. You will learn about a variety of economic tools, such as cost-benefit analysis and life-cycle assessment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Economist

Environmental Engineer

An Environmental Engineer designs and implements solutions to environmental problems. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course can help you become a more effective Environmental Engineer by providing you with the skills to design and implement sustainable engineering solutions. You will learn about a variety of environmental engineering topics, such as water treatment, air pollution control, and solid waste management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer

Science Writer

A Science Writer communicates complex scientific information to a non-scientific audience. They may work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other media outlets. This course can help you become a more effective Science Writer by providing you with the skills to write clearly and concisely about environmental issues. You will learn about the different types of science writing, how to interview scientists, and how to use storytelling techniques to engage your audience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Writer

Environmental Activist

An Environmental Activist works to protect the environment and promote sustainability. They may work for non-profit organizations, grassroots organizations, or political campaigns. This course can help you become a more effective Environmental Activist by providing you with the skills to develop and implement effective advocacy campaigns. You will learn about the different types of advocacy, how to build relationships with decision-makers, and how to use social media to promote your cause.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Activist

Teacher

A Teacher educates students in a variety of subjects. They may work in public schools, private schools, or charter schools. This course can help you become a more effective Teacher by providing you with the skills to develop and implement engaging lesson plans. You will learn about the different types of learning styles, how to manage a classroom, and how to use technology to enhance your teaching.

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Professor

A Professor teaches and conducts research at a college or university. They may specialize in a particular field, such as environmental science, environmental policy, or environmental law. This course can help you become a more effective Professor by providing you with the skills to develop and deliver effective lectures. You will learn about the different types of teaching methods, how to use technology in the classroom, and how to conduct research.

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Researcher

A Researcher conducts research in a variety of fields, such as environmental science, environmental policy, or environmental law. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course can help you become a more effective Researcher by providing you with the skills to design and conduct research projects. You will learn about the different types of research methods, how to analyze data, and how to write research papers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Researcher