For over 40 years, Project Learning Tree has offered award-winning environmental education programs and supplemental curriculum materials. Both formal and nonformal educators discover PLT’s teaching materials by attending professional development workshops. PLT works with schools, teachers, and other partners across the country, creating an extensive network of educators who use the environment as a context for learning.
In addition to the in-person professional development workshops that we offer nationwide, Project Learning Tree also offers online workshops so busy educators − like you! − can access training when it’s convenient, wherever you are. Our online workshops support educators at all levels, from those new to the field who need an introduction to environmental education, to experienced educators who need specialized content. In the brief trailer that follows, you’ll discover PLT’s online workshops. We discuss what’s included and key features to provide you with a quality learning experience.
Each online workshop provides you with access to the online coursels included in the workshop and any related resources. A coursel is a 20 to 30 minute self-directed learning experience; it is a “morsel” of a course! When you finish the workshop, you will receive a certificate of completion. PLT online workshops are eligible for continuing education credits. Contact your state coordinator for more details. Your online workshop also includes access to an electronic version of the appropriate PLT supplemental curriculum guide, or E-Unit. Like the coursels, the curriculum guide is accessible when and where you need it, from any computer or mobile device with Internet access, and your access to the curriculum guide doesn’t expire. Let’s take a closer look at the features and characteristics of PLT’s online workshops.
When you access your online workshop, you will see a listing of links to various parts of the workshop. These include a welcome letter from your state’s PLT coordinator; some brief orientation resources if you’re new to Project Learning Tree online training; the course itself, chunked into 20 to 30 minute pieces, called coursels; and an evaluation survey where you can give feedback. This structure is mirrored in each of PLT’s online workshops.
Within each coursel, there are interactive elements that guide you through the content. For example, you can take a closer look at key ideas and concepts or discover new web resources by selecting links embedded throughout the course. Some coursels also include quizzes where you can test how much you know about an environmental education topic. PLT believes that seeing and experiencing our activities helps educators - like you - be successful in planning and facilitating activities with students. For this reason, certain coursels include videos of educators demonstrating activities or videos of interviews with educators and students. Coursels in our PreK through grade 8 online workshops include simulations where you can try out the activities from the students’ point of view! Finally, PLT believes that a successful workshop is one that provides opportunities for lesson planning. Each coursel includes a lesson planning worksheet that you can use to begin planning how you will facilitate activities with your students.
PLT recognizes that environmental education can look different, depending on where you live. For this reason, many of our state partners have added supplemental content to offer you a customized workshop experience. These customizations may include: website scavenger hunts, lists of local web-based resources, downloadable state-specific PLT activities, hands-on activities you can perform outdoors in your area, and local opportunities to earn additional continuing education credit hours. Contact your PLT State Coordinator to learn about your local resources and content.
PLT offers online workshops for educators working with learners from early childhood all the way through high school. Which online workshop are you interested in exploring? Select each icon in turn to take a closer look at our online workshops. When you are ready, select Next to continue.
PLT’s online workshop for early childhood educators is a three-hour self-directed workshop that can be completed anytime, anywhere. This workshop focuses on PLT’s Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood activity guide. The workshop explores the structure of the activity guide and dives into group experiences and learning centers, the two broad categories of learning experiences. You’ll see examples of these learning experiences through videos and pictures of students, and begin to plan your lesson. After completing this online workshop, you will be prepared to facilitate learning experiences with early childhood learners.
PLT’s online workshop for kindergarten through grade 8 educators is a four-hour self-directed workshop that can be completed anytime, anywhere. This workshop focuses on PLT’s popular PreK through 8 Environmental Education Activity Guide. The workshop explores the structure of the activity guide and takes a close look at four activities: Birds and Worms, Every Tree for Itself, Tree Factory, and How Big Is Your Tree? You’ll see examples of these activities in action through videos and try out the activities through simulations. As you complete each coursel, you will also plan your lesson. After completing this online workshop, you will be prepared to facilitate these PLT activities with your students.
PLT’s online workshop for GreenSchools is a six-hour self-directed workshop that can be completed anytime, anywhere. This workshop focuses on PLT’s GreenSchools program and student-led investigations. The workshop explores the GreenSchools program and discusses how to get started and form a green team, how to collect data through the investigations, how to create an action project, and how to determine the impacts of that project. Students and educators share their experiences in the GreenSchools program through videos that are interwoven throughout the workshop. Each investigation is explored in great detail and includes student stories and connections to PLT and U.S. Forest Service online resources. As you complete each coursel, you will also plan your GreenSchools program. After completing this online workshop, you will be prepared to facilitate a student-led GreenSchools investigation and action project at your school.
PLT’s online workshop for Energy in Ecosystems is a three-hour self-directed workshop that can be completed anytime, anywhere. This workshop focuses on PLT’s E-Unit, Energy in Ecosystems, for grades 3 through 5. An E-Unit is a highly interactive web-based supplemental curriculum guide centered on standards alignment and learning progressions. This online workshop explores the structure of this E-Unit, and takes a close look at two activities: Web of Life and Every Tree for Itself. In these coursels, you can view video demonstrations of the activities and test your knowledge about the activity topic. As you complete each coursel, you will also plan your lesson! After completing this online workshop, you will be prepared to facilitate PLT activities with your students.
PLT’s online workshop for Treemendous Science! is a three-hour self-directed workshop that can be completed anytime, anywhere. This workshop focuses on PLT’s E-Unit, Treemendous Science, for grades K through 2. An E-Unit is a highly interactive web-based supplemental curriculum guide centered on standards alignment and learning progressions. This online workshop explores the structure of this E-Unit and takes a close look at two activities: Schoolyard Safari and Adopt a Tree. You can view video demonstrations of these activities and explore the various teaching levels to help you tailor the activity to your young learners. As you complete each coursel, you will also plan your lesson. After completing this online workshop, you will be prepared to facilitate PLT activities with young learners.
PLT’s online workshop for Carbon and Climate is a three-hour self-directed workshop that can be completed anytime, anywhere. This workshop focuses on PLT’s E-Unit, Carbon and Climate, for grades 6 through 8. An E-Unit is a highly interactive web-based supplemental curriculum guide centered on standards alignment and learning progressions. This workshop explores the structure of the E-Unit and takes a close look at two activities: The Carbon Cycle and Is It Only Natural? In these coursels, you can view video demonstrations of the activities and test your knowledge about the activity topic. As you complete each coursel, you will also plan your lesson. After completing this online workshop, you will be prepared to facilitate PLT activities with your students.
Educators just like you who have tried PLT Online Workshops can tell you that these workshops have helped them navigate their curriculum guide to better plan their lessons, given them ideas on how to tailor the lessons to their curriculum and classroom, and shown them how to connect with other educators and resources. Review these comments from educators, and when you’re ready, select Next to continue.
Are you ready to get started making environmental education in your classroom fun and engaging? Go to “shop dot plt dot org” to enroll in an online workshop and begin your PLT journey today!