Water curriculum evaluation for educators in Pennsylvania

Results are presented from a formal evaluation of The Pennsylvania Bureau of State Park's Watershed Education (WE) curriculum developed for students in grades 6-12. The primary research objective was to measure the impact the training and subsequent use of the WE curriculum had on teachers' behavior, confidence, and self-efficacy in teaching about watersheds. A statewide mail survey measured these attributes in both curriculum participants and non-participants. Comparisons between the two populations revealed that teachers who participated in the WE training, and who use the curriculum in their classrooms, exhibit a higher degree of pro-watershed behavior inside and outside the classroom than do non-participants. Additionally, participants exhibit greater confidence and self-efficacy than teachers who have not participated in the WE training.