Closing the Achievement Gap: Using the Environment as an Integrating Context for Learning

The State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER) is a cooperative partnership of education agencies from 12 states working to improve student learning by integrating the environment into formal education. SEER developed the term “Environment as an Integrating Context for learning” (the EIC Model™) to describe a pedagogical approach that uses natural and socio-cultural environments as the context for learning. SEER designed and conducted this evaluation with the goal of understanding the effects on learning and instruction of using the EIC Model™ in K-12 schools. The SEER team chose 40 elementary, middle, and high schools in the 12 participating states for inclusion in the evaluation. A day long site visit was made to each school, during which time interviews were conducted with multiple stakeholder groups. Two survey instruments were also administered to teachers and administrators. Evaluation results were used to advocate for the increased use of the EIC Model™ in K-12 curricula and school reform efforts.