Building Partnerships to Promote Active Learning in Environmental Management.

The goal of the Environmental Management Systems curriculum at Louisiana State University is to provide students with a background in physical and biological sciences as well as in environmental management, policy and economics, in order to prepare them to work on real-world environmental problems and solutions.  Several partnerships have been established to incorporate active learning in core classes to reach this goal.  Two environmental management classes have partnered with the East Baton Rouge Recycling Office to assist in several events and to learn about problems and possible solutions to the growing problem of municipal solid waste management.  Students have also worked with the LSU Recycling Office to set up recycling bins around the university.  An educational agreement has been established with National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Restoration and Response (NOAA OR&R), which provides expertise in oil spill response and environmental restoration, both critical issues in Louisiana.  Problem-based learning that included case studies related to coastal environmental issues and NOAA OR&R educational materials was incorporated into two classes and guest speakers from NOAA visited classrooms.  Results from class essays and projects suggest that students are aware of  the challenges of environmental management, particularly in the area of solid waste, and understand the role that NOAA and other federal agencies play in emergency response to chemical spills and in the long-term stewardship of coastal areas.  Service-learning surveys indicated that students enjoyed service-learning activities and that most felt the experience was valuable.  However, several areas emerged as needing improvement: students would like to see better integration of service projects with course material and learning goals, more in-class time for preparation for activities and more opportunities to design their own service projects.