Water Works! An Innovative Program in Drinking Water Education

A Project of the Education Committee of the Minnesota Section American Water Works Association

What Is It?

The Education Committee of the Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association has been conducting “Water Works! Drinking Water Institutes” for Minnesota teachers since 2001. Middle and High School Teachers learn about drinking water along with ways to develop the subject into inquiry-based curriculum. They also have the opportunity to write curriculum to take back to their classrooms. The overall goal of this education program is to have an ongoing group of high-school graduates in the state who are well-versed on the subject of drinking water. This goal is accomplished by providing students with subject matter curriculum as a key part of their education at various grade levels.

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Why Is It Being Done?

Drinking water is the world’s most important resource. Yet it is one that is taken for granted. It is in everyone’s best interest to increase the awareness of drinking water. This includes an understanding that safe drinking water does not happen by accident but through the efforts of dedicated professionals in the drinking water industry. A continued effort requires vigilance to continue to have an adequate supply of water that is safe to drink.

This program will ultimately benefit all of us by having young people understand the value of water, why it should be used wisely, and why legislation that supports drinking water initiatives is important.

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How Is It Being Done?

The first Drinking Water Institute was held in the summer of 2001. Eighteen teachers from across the state attended the Institute and learned about drinking water from professionals in the industry. On the final day, water superintendents from the communities where the teachers were from joined the class and explained some of the specific aspects and features of water supply and treatment. Before completing the three day session, the teachers began writing curriculum for their students. They presented this curriculum at a follow-up session, held several months later. Teachers who attended the Institute, including the follow-up day, received two graduate credits (or a stipend) for their participation.

The Institute was originally conducted with the participation of the Science Museum of Minnesota and is now partnering with the Hamline University Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE). The role of the Hamline CGEE is important to ensure that the developed curriculum actually gets used. While the water industry professionals provide basic content regarding drinking water, the Hamline CGEE ensures the pedagological aspects of the Institute that is, the art of teaching, is addressed.

Lee Schmitt, who was the director of teacher education for the Science Museum and is now the professional development coordinator at Hamline CGEE, helps the teachers develop inquiry-based curriculum to take back to the classroom. According to Schmitt, inquiry-based teaching is a way of turning the standard lesson plan upside down. In the standard plan approach Schmitt explains, “educational material is presented in a manner called ‘cookbook activities.’ This approach utilizes paper-based instructions that are used to relate to the activities and subject matter taught in the classroom. “With inquiry-based curriculum, there are no directions. Instead of the usual teaching method, the inquiry-based teaching approach begins by providing subject material to the students and have them make observations and formulate questions about it. To answer the questions, the students determine procedures for finding the answers, reaching a conclusion, and defending the conclusion. This promotes and encourages the 'scientist' within the student.”

Focusing on the pedagogy approach of having the teachers develop their own inquiry-based curriculum rather than just being handed a piece of paper that has an activity or lesson on it greatly increases the chances that the curriculum developed by the teachers actually gets into the classroom and taught, which is the ultimate goal of this program.

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Organizations

The Institute is funded by grants and donations from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Section of American Water Works Association.

How to Get Involved

Water Works! Drinking Water Institutes are designed for middle-school science teachers in Minnesota.

The Institute covers a total of four days—three in the summer with a follow-up date set for the fall. The Institutes are free and those who attend the entire Institute will receive two graduate credits or a stipend for the equivalent cost of the credits.

The 2008 Drinking Water Institute will be at the Lakeville Water Treatment Plant in Lakeville, Minnesota from Monday, August 4 to Wednesday, August 6.

For registration information, go to Hamline University. Questions? Please contact Stew Thornley of the Minnesota Section of American Water Works Association at 651-201-4655 or Lee Schmitt of Hamline University, 651-523-2562.

 

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