MEEA Environmental Educator Certification
The MEEA Environmental Educator Certification program is a way for educators to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills to be an effective voice for the environment.
Great News!
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The MEEA Certification Program is currently experiencing a comprehensive update and overhaul by our Certification Committee.
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We will also be incorporating some exciting “micro-credential” course offerings into our Certification Program: Fundamentals of Environmental Education, Climate Change and JEDIA
In the mean time, thank you for your patience as we work to create this “new and improved” professional development opportunity for our members!
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Please Note: Certification is only available to Professional (Paid Membership) MEEA Members. However, anyone is welcome to use these resources to enhance their knowledge and skills for free. Membership and fees are only required if you wish to be formally certified by MEEA.
Start Here: Learn
Begin to familiarize yourself with the four levels of certification and how they connect to the North American Association for Environmental Education Guidelines for the Preparation and Professional Development of Environmental Educators. Review the tasks and resources required to meet each level.
Next Step: Apply
Unavailable at this time; check back later this year as we introduce our new & improved Certification Program!
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Complete the application which includes a self-assessment of the degree core competencies in EE are met, and a plan for future professional development goals, including how pursuing certification will help those goals.
You may begin the application and return to it as frequently as you like and instructions are within the form to guide you along. Once complete the fee to process the application fee of $10.
Progress: Track and Record
Unavailable at this time; check back later this year as we introduce our new & improved Certification Program!
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Upon application approval an on-line profile page will be created for tracking and recording your personal progress, documentation and achievements (this will be in addition to paper and electronic records). While this page will not be password protected, only the applicant will have the web address of their page. Begin your work through each of the levels of certification using the resources below. Levels should be completed in order; however, it will be useful to review materials for all levels and, where appropriate, begin work on components that might be in higher levels but which are time consuming.
The Missouri EE Certification Program is aligned with the NAAEE Guidelines for the Preparation and Professional Development of Environmental Educators. View the document here.
MEEA Certification Levels
Unavailable at this time; check back later this year as we introduce our new & improved Certification Program!
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LEVEL I
Knowledge
NAAEE Requirements Met
- 1.2.1 Demonstrate understanding of processes and systems of a) biological change, b) cycles, physical processes that shape the earth and energy flow, c) biodiversity, d) cultural, political and economic systems, e) human interactions with the environment, f) ecological consequences
- 1.2.2 Demonstrate knowledge of the certifying state and bioregion’s natural and cultural histories
- 1.3.1 Differentiate between an environmental event, problem and issue
LEVEL II
Understanding
NAAEE Requirements Met (*L2P2 – Teaching Environmental Issues; underlined – L2P1 – The Field of EE)
Projects
- 1.1.1 Compare and contrast 3 different investigative approaches/methods/modes and apply at least one of them to an environmental topic*
- 1.1.2 Describe 2 scenarios in which environmental knowledge is incomplete and explain how environmental knowledge continues to change as discoveries are made*
- 1.1.3 Critically analyze 2 or more sources of information for accuracy and reliability*
- 2.1.1 Describe the goals, objectives and characteristics of EE that contribute to making it a distinct field
- 2.2.1 Identify 2 major national and 2 state EE providers and the resources they offer
- 2.3.1 Explain the evolution of the field of EE by citing and describing the significance or impact of 2 historical documents, 3 movements (historical and emerging), 2 policies, and 3 individuals in making the field what it is today
- 2.3.2 Discuss how at least 1 current policy impacts her or his day-to-day work
Badges
- 3.1.1 Model responsible, respectful and reasoned behavior during 2 presentations and an interaction (committee meetings, activities, communications, etc.) with a local community
- 4.2.1 Demonstrate three distinct instructional methods that are particularly suited to EE (see list on p. 14 of Guidelines for Initial Prep of Env Educators)
- 5.3.1 Demonstrate that s/he is able to take advantage of “teachable moments” by being flexible and open to student questions and ideas.
LEVEL III
SKILLS and DISCIPLINE
NAAEE Requirements Met
- 4.1.1 Demonstrate or document appropriate instructional approaches that meet needs of diverse learners, taking into account differences in a) cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, b) age and grade level, c) levels of knowledge and experience, d) special needs and e) developmental abilities
- 4.3.1 Articulate the scope of what constitutes environmental knowledge and skills as well as the sequence in which they should be learned by aligning one program’s content to the Guidelines for Learning K-12 (adult programs refer to 1. Env Lit of Guidelines for Initial Prep of Env Educators)
- 4.4.1 List and critically evaluate 2 types of EE materials obtainable from community and corporate organizations, agencies, professional development training programs and/or internet (evaluations should be based on EE Materials: Guidelines for Excellence)
- 4.4.2 Critically evaluate one state or local EE program (based on Non-formal EE Programs : Guidelines for Excellence)
- 4.5.1 Describe 3 types of instructional tools or technologies and give examples of their safe, effective, appropriate use in instructional settings
- Analyze one of her or his teaching environments citing 3 ways to address potential safety issues and 3 ways in which the teaching environment is appropriate for the subject matter she or he is teaching
- 4.6.2 Describe 3 field experiences in which she or he has been able to link content to the learners’ immediate environment
- 4.7.1 Give 2 examples of how she or he has successfully integrated EE into curricula, programs or an organization’s mission
- 4.7.2 Nonformal – Demonstrate strategies for supporting and enhancing teachers’ efforts in EE at the PreK-12 level
- 5.1.2 Demonstrate the she or he has successfully stimulated learners’ interest in the environment
- 5.2.1 Demonstrate the she or he successfully engaged children/adults in their own learning and provided first-hand, inquiry-based, developmentally appropriate experiences, indicating ways in which they collaborated
- 5.2.2 Demonstrate that her or his lesson/presentation was relevant and interdisciplinary
- 5.2.3 Cite 2 instances where she or he used the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of learners not just as a context but also as an instructional resource
- 6.1.1 Demonstrate the use of 2 assessment tools designed to measure cognitive, affective and/or psychomotor outcomes that align with instructional objectives (drawn from state standards and/or EE goals and objectives).
- 6.2.1 Demonstrate the implementation of one strategy to engage learners in setting their own expectations for learning and evaluating their performances
- 6.2.2 Demonstrate how one assessment strategy was used to shape instructional planning and/or delivery.
- 6.3.1 Demonstrate one example of how assessment and/or evaluation data were used to improve instruction
- 6.4.1 Describe a) one way she or he used evaluation to design or develop an EE program, b) one way she or he used evaluation during program implementation to improve an EE program, c) one way she or he used evaluation to determine the impact of an EE program
- 6.4.2 Display 3 data collection tools and the analysis she or he used to evaluate an EE program.
LEVEL IV
Mentoring
Help candidates prepare projects and help evaluate other candidate’s projects
Resources for Certification Work
Application
Unavailable at this time; check back later this year as we introduce our new & improved Certification Program!
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Describe your own past and present professional development activities, conduct a self-assessment of the degree to which you currently meets core competencies in EE, and create a plan for your future professional development goals. Include how pursuing Missouri Environmental Education Certification will help you accomplish those goals.
The completed online application form will be stored and sent to the certification coordinator along with the $10 application fee (pay here). The coordinator will review the certification for completeness and if complete, will accept the candidate into the program. The coordinator will set up a paper file and web page for tracking and recording the candidate’s progress through certification.
The application and certification process follow the North American Association for Environmental Education’s Guidelines for the Preparation of Environmental Educators very closely. You may find reviewing this document very helpful as you fill out the application. However, feel free to email us if you have any questions.
We recommend that you print it out, fill it in as you gather the relevant information and reflect on your goals, then type the information into the document and mail it or email it to MEEA. (email is preferable)
Level I - Knowledge
Level I includes six quizzes that test knowledge of living systems, physical systems, human societies, environmental issues, the fundamentals of EE and Missouri natural and cultural history.
Candidates are required to pass six multiple choice quizzes to demonstrate knowledge of key areas. The online quizzes consist of 30 multiple choice questions selected randomly from a test bank of 80 to 139 questions. To pass, a candidate must have a score of 26 out of 30 correct. The quizzes themselves are free to take, and can be taken multiple times until they are passed (applicants may study all the questions in advance by clicking on the “study the questions” link). View the quizzes page here.
Level II - Understanding
Level II includes two multi-part written projects that show understanding of how the field of environmental education developed and evolved, and of how to evaluate environmental education resources and lessons, and 30 hours of approved workshops.
The Level II requirements use multi-part written projects and badges to assess the candidates understanding of and dispositions towards environmental education. Applicants must also complete 30 hours of professional development workshops and they can begin working on badges.
PROJECTS: The certification coordinator or peer graders will review the papers and evaluate them using a rubric available to the applicants. Applicants must score 85% to pass and can resubmit once if they don’t pass, using the comments on the rubric to improve their score.
BADGES: Using the honor system, applicants can acquire virtual badges certifying that they have demonstrated a particular skill. The only required skills 1) are model respectful, reasoned, behavior in 2 presentations and one interaction; 2) demonstrate 3 instructional methods for EE; 3) describe occasions where you were able to engage learners; and 4) demonstrate using teachable moments.
Applicants will demonstrate their skill in front of a third party who is knowledgeable about the skill who will sign and date a skill sheet – very similar to what scouts do to add badges.
Professional Development Experiences: Applicants must have attended 30 hours of professional development within 3 years of submitting their application. Professional development should be consistent with the goals established in their application and should help prepare them for the required quizzes, exams, papers and portfolio requirements.
Applicants will submit a list of program names, the providers, the dates, the hours and briefly describe what they learned (skill, instructional strategy, etc.) within the context of their self assessment and plan for professional development.
Level III - Skills and Discipline
Level III includes two multi-part written projects and 4 badges that show skill with, and disposition for, environmental teaching and addressing an environmental issue.
Applicants must submit a portfolio that includes documentation of the following – approaches for diverse learners, programs aligned to NAAEE Guidelines, evaluations of EE materials, examples of instructional tools, analysis of their teaching environment, description of field experiences, examples of successful integration, strategies for supporting teachers, demonstration of learner interest, relevance of lessons, and where learner background was used, and the use of assessment tools and strategies.
Peers who have completed Level III certification review the portfolios of persons in the program. There are 2 reviewers for each portfolio. Reviewers use a detailed rubric to evaluate portfolios and the rubric will be available to the applicant. If reviewers disagree, the portfolio will be sent to a third reviewer.
Level IV - Mentoring
Level IV includes helping candidates prepare projects and help evaluate other candidate’s projects
In Level IV candidates evaluate and provide feedback on at least four projects per year to receive one year’s annual professional membership in MEEA for free.
Materials
LEVEL I
LEVEL II
LEVEL III – Coming Soon
LEVEL IV
Mentoring, no materials needed. You will be contacted by MEEA to provide peer feedback and evaluation.
FEES & PAYMENTS
Certification Program Fees
Certification fees are noted in each of the level resources descriptions above. Fees are due when materials are accepted for review. No documentation will be posted until fees are received.
Total fee for completion of the four levels of certification is $100.
Initial appliction fee of $10.
$5 per quiz, six quizzes quizzes required for initial certification ($30)
$15 for each project, therefore $30 for the two required projects. Fees must accompany the project or projects submitted for review. If a project is not accepted, it will be returned with suggestions for improvement. It may be revised and submitted for review one time within six months without additional payment. If the second revision is not accepted, further revisions must be submitted with an additional $15 fee.
There is no fee forProfessional Development Workshops. However, agencies or organizations providing a workshop may charge fees.
$15 for each practice, $30 for the two required practices. Fees must accompany a practice submitted for review. If the practice is not accepted it will be returned with suggestions for improvement. It may be revised and submitted one time within six months without additional payment. If the second revision is not accepted, further revisions must be submitted with an additional $15 fee. There is no fee for badges.
There is no fee for Level IV. Applicants who review at least 2 projects from each level (4 total) each year will receive a year’s free professional membership in MEEA.
Certification Renewal
The MEEA Certification must be renewed every 4 years. Renewal fees are $15. Candidates must complete a self-evaluation and set goals for professional personal growth, and then complete at least 3 activities in at least two levels that will help them meet those goals. All other fees (for self-evaluation, quizzes, projects, porfolio reviews) are waived.
All six quizzes required for initial certification.
Project 1, Project 2, and/or 5 hours of professional development in any category
Project 1, Project 2, and/or at least one badge.
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Lifetime Certification
Individuals who renew 3 times after their initial certification become Lifetime Certified.
Questions about MEEA’s Certification?
Drop us a line and let us know how we can help.