Teacher Professional Learning

The Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) program is three-day professional development workshop for secondary school teachers that immerses participants in relevant local and regional water resource issues and online mapping tools to explore these issues deeper. Each participant leaves with 10-15 lessons of a Water and Sustainability Science unit based on Next Generation Science Standards that can be tailored to their needs.

TPL was formed under the partnership of faculty from UConn's Center for Land Use Education & Research (CLEAR), Department of Natural Resources & the Environment, Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering (CESE), and Neag School of Education. TPL provides hands-on training in natural resources management (focusing on water) and online geospatial tools.

Training

The theme of TPL is water, weaving in all three dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) framework: core ideas, key practices, and cross-cutting concepts. TPL focuses on the connections between land use and water resource health. We start globally but quickly narrow in on Connecticut. Concepts are explored in the classroom but also in a half-day field tour of the UConn campus, which is known for its innovative stormwater management practices. Participants are taught how to use existing online mapping tools to explore these concepts for themselves in ways that align with NGSS, and for their particular geographic area of interest. All participants leave the workshop with 10-15 lessons in a Water & Sustainability Unit developed by UConn Neag School of Education researchers and are aligned with the Performance Expectation bundles listed below.

Earth and Human Activity (HS-ESS3-3, HS-ESS3-4)
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics (HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6, HS-LS2-7)
Engineering Design (HS-ETS1-3, HS-ETS1-4)

Welcome to the Anthropocene Story Map

An Esri story map showcasing evidence of human influences on our planet.

Connecticut's Changing Landscape

The Connecticut’s Changing Landscape (CCL) story map contains interactive maps that let the user explore various aspects of landscape change in Connecticut. Created by CLEAR.

Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online (CT ECO)

Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online (CT ECO) is an interactive mapping site that showcases all available statewide data layers related to natural resources and the environment. Created by CLEAR and the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

WikiWatershed Runoff Simulation Model

The Runoff Simulation Model allows users to change the three parameters controlling rainfall runoff -- storm size, land cover, and soil type – for a theoretical plot of land, thus allowing them to understand the interplay of these factors. Created by the Stroud Water Research Center.

WikiWatershed Models

The Map My Watershed Model allows users to explore the runoff quality and quantity in a given watershed or area of their choice. They can also create scenarios with different land uses and/or conservation practices to see how those changes affect runoff. Created by the Stroud Water Research Center.

Map My Watershed Model
Explore the WikiWatershed Toolkit

State of LID Story Map

The State of Low Impact Development in Connecticut story map takes the viewer through the results of a statewide survey of the LID regulations in Connecticut towns, and the major factors either encouraging or discouraging the use of LID practices. Created by CLEAR.