An evaluation of the effectiveness of Leopold Education Project workshop activities and materials for LEP workshop coordinators, facilitators, and participants

Abstract

The Leopold Education Project (LEP) was developed in 1988 by the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts. LEP depends upon trained volunteer coordinators and facilitators who conduct LEP workshops. Participants in LEP workshops use experiences, information, and materials they receive to educate others about LEP objectives in their local communities. This research investigates why volunteers initially decided to become LEP coordinators, facilitators, or workshop participants. This research also uses a formative evaluation to specifically determine which activities and materials from LEP workshops have been effective for these LEP educators when implementing them for their audiences. Evaluation has become an increasingly important tool for groups and organizations in the environmental education field. The use of surveys has been one of the most common and beneficial methods for evaluating EE programs to determine effectiveness and improvement needs. Many EE program evaluations focus on student knowledge and behavior change. This research adds to the field of EE by evaluating an EE program on a national level, utilizing a web-based survey instrument design, and focusing on the thoughts, ideas, and needs of the educators who use EE curriculum. Results of this research indicated LEP educators attend and use LEP workshops and curriculum for a wide variety of reasons, including their specific content, hands-on approach, outdoor focus, adaptability, and ease of use. LEP educators indicated they would like LEP to expand the LEP curriculum to provide more up to date environmentally focused activities, materials, and supplements, as well as the creation of audience specific, and culturally diverse curriculum. LEP educators also highlighted their interest in having more opportunities to share their adaptations to activities and materials with educators across the nation through an on-line interface.