Cognitive Science 0185 - Teaching About Nature in Nature

Are you interested in teaching summer camp outdoors? Teaching nature classes in outdoor settings? Becoming an environmental educator? This course will teach you a variety of skills, knowledge, and instructional techniques. This course includes a "lab" session where you will: observe expert outdoor environmental educators, design one class/activity, and practice teaching. Lab sessions will be held at The Hitchcock Center for the Environment located on Hampshire's campus near the farm. Students must be willing/able to spend time teaching and learning outdoors. In addition to the practical components of this course, we will read and discuss academic writing on the topics of group management, instructional practice such as free-play and guided discovery, general learning theory, and how to design for learning. Prior coursework/knowledge of education and/or ecology is helpful but not required.

Mind, Brain, and Information Independent Work Writing and Research In this course, students can expect to spend 6 to 8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time.