Megan Ennes, Director of the Thompson Earth Systems Institute and Associate Curator of Museum Education in the Department of Natural History presented at the European Science Education Research Association in Denmark last month. With participants from around the globe, Dr. Ennes was able to share her research on educators' confidence to engage youth in civic action projects and start an international dialogue on research related to museum educators.
New study examines informal educators’ self-efficacy in facilitating youth civic engagement for the environment
by Carla Ruffer
Source: Florida Museum
A new article investigating the self-efficacy of informal educators in leading youth civic engagement projects has been published in the Journal of Museum Education. Conducted by Megan Ennes of the Florida Museum of Natural History and undergraduate research assistant Elle Henson at the University of Florida, the research explored how museum and informal science educators perceive their ability to facilitate civic action projects aimed at addressing environmental issues.
Funded by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the ee360+ program, the study focused on a professional development initiative designed to prepare educators to implement the Community Action Projects for the Environment (CAPE) curriculum. CAPE, based on Earth Force’s Environmental Action Civics framework, empowers youth aged 11-18 to take meaningful action in their communities by identifying environmental challenges, researching root causes, engaging with decision-makers and advocating for change.
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