Community of Practice Curriculum
According to the Sixth Assessment Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climate change is unequivocally caused by human activities. Impacts of climate change vary by extent and location worldwide, but one fact is clear: climate change is disproportionately affecting low-income families and communities that are predominantly Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
Human-driven causes call for human-driven solutions, and achieving a climate-resilient future requires equitable practices. Future generations will be faced with increased climate-driven hardships and are equal participants in accomplishing global climate goals. As such, students and teachers need to understand the effects of climate change at home and in their local communities, while also equipping themselves with tools build a sustainable and equitable future. This Difficult Subjects Community of Practice aims to provide the facts, solutions and resources to do just that.
Wrapping our minds around climate change and its impacts is a daunting task for researchers, politicians, educators and spiritual leaders, as well as family and community members. We are all affected by climate change, but it will impact some people more than others, each in a unique constellation of ways. This session will introduce climate change, its impacts and how we can navigate conversations about this difficult topic with each other and within ourselves.
Extreme rainfall events affect all corners of the United States, but the frequency and severity of these events has already increased and is expected to continue. Collective actions we take as communities and individual actions we take as homeowners and organization leaders play a role in determining our resilience to heavy-rainfall events. This session will explore how stormwater and flooding are emerging concerns for Central Ohio and what resources are available to address the issue through both infrastructure and behaviors.
According to Project Drawdown, alternative transportation, when used for around 30 percent of urban passenger trips, could offset up to 15 gigatons of carbon dioxide emitted from cars. Central Ohio has some alternative transportation infrastructure in place, but is there room for improvement? This session will explore the transportation resources available to Central Ohioans, gaps in transportation availability, co-benefits that might not be obvious, and what the future of mobility looks like for the region.
Green lawns are being replaced with native plants, perennials, rain gardens and pollinator-friendly landscapes in a growing movement to support local ecology and food systems. Ohio is home to almost 1,900 native plants that provide benefits including food sources for wildlife and people, stormwater control, natural cooling and beauty. This session will cover the environmental, economic and cultural benefits of gardening.
It’s no secret that climate change is making things hotter! Urban neighborhoods with extensive pavement, dark roofs and few trees feel the greatest impacts in the summer and during heat waves. These same neighborhoods are often more socially vulnerable and lower-income with older, less-energy efficient housing. This session will cover the Urban Heat Island effect and how to stay cool when the weather gets hot.
This final session will revisit the topics of the previous sessions with an immersive experience in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus. Franklinton is a neighborhood of contrasts: an early settlement a short distance from the state capitol that has been ravaged by floods and historic underinvestment but is now experiencing renewed interest by outsiders while simultaneously working to meet the needs of long-term residents. Visit local organizations to learn about on-the-ground impacts as well as mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate change in Central Ohio. You will hear from a diverse array of researchers, practitioners and residents.
Human-driven causes call for human-driven solutions, and achieving a climate-resilient future requires equitable practices.
About the facilitators
Jason Cervenec is the education and outreach director for the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center at The Ohio State University. The diverse outreach portfolio of the Center reaches approximately 12,000 individuals annually and includes programs in cutting-edge science, science education, history and the arts. The most common request for information that he receives from the public is on climate change. Cervenec earned a BS in biology and an M.Ed. in secondary science education from Ohio State. He began his career as a high school science teacher, where he taught for more than a decade. During that time, he established two Science Olympiad teams and served as a lead instructor on an Ohio Board of Regents grant to train teachers in modeling instruction. In 2010, Cervenec took part in a Fulbright Teacher Exchange in Mumbai, India, and leads the Columbus Climate Change Action Plan Task Force and volunteers with Franklin County’s Restorative Justice Circles.
Kelsea Best is an assistant professor of civil environmental and geodetic engineering in Ohio State's Knowlton School of Architecture. Best’s research focuses on understanding how climate change interacts with human societies and infrastructure, how people may adapt to climate change effects and how climate adaptation measures can be designed and implemented in a just and equitable way. Her work is highly interdisciplinary and strives to connect methods, disciplines and researchers from across geographies and fields. Best’s research is grounded in data-driven methods, including machine learning and agent-based modeling, but it also seeks to advance conventional modeling approaches by expanding the role of personal narrative and community participation in informing computational models.
Additional Information
If you’re a district leader or an educator in any Central Ohio district, please complete the nomination/application webform.
There is no cost for educators to participate. The institute offers each educator a $500 stipend and provides textbooks and other resources. Stipends will be disbursed following successful completion of the institute. Educators are also eligible for Continuing Education Units.
Which educators would benefit from participating in the DSI?
Any K-12 educator would benefit from participation. Institute seminars and workshops are at heart of the program curriculum and are led by scholars from The Ohio State University’s College of Arts and Sciences who have expertise in history, literature, art, music and performance. Recognizing the value of practice, the institute also brings in teaching experts (to share pedagogical techniques) and multicultural curriculum developers (to provide instruction on complementing and supplementing State of Ohio standards pertaining to difficult subjects).
How much does the institute cost?
There is no cost to participate. The institute offers each educator a modest stipend as well as textbooks, parking and field trip food and travel. Stipends are disbursed following successful completion of the institute.
How does the district nominate an educator to participate?
District leadership may nominate educators by completing this webform and answering some brief questions.
Can educators volunteer without the permission of their district leaders?
Yes, educators may nominate themselves using this webform. However, unnominated educators must include a letter of recommendation or concurrence from their district DEI coordinator or school principal.
How long and how often are the institute sessions?
Programming consists of 30 hours of engagement. It includes an orientation session (January); five three-hour Saturday seminars (monthly); and an in-person experiential-learning field trip and workshop (June).
How do educators earn credit for participation?
Upon successful completion of whole institute, educators are awarded a certificate and verification of contact hours that may be submitted for CEU consideration to the relevant district committee.
Enrollment
- What is the enrollment process?
Educators interested in participating should complete this webform.
- Can I enroll in two tracks simultaneously?
No. Each track runs concurrently; therefore, participation is limited to one track per year.
- Can I enroll in a second track if I’ve participated in a previous year?
Yes, per the discretion of DSI leadership. Email Program Coordinator Siatta Dennis-Brown (dennis-brown.1@osu.edu).
- Can I participate if I am educational staff but not a teacher?
Yes, per the discretion of DSI leadership. Email Program Coordinator Siatta Dennis-Brown (dennis-brown.1@osu.edu).
Institute Cost + Stipends
- How much does the institute cost?
There is no cost to participate. The institute offers each educator a modest stipend as well as textbooks, parking and field trip food and travel. Stipends are disbursed following successful completion of the institute.
- How long will it take for me to receive my stipend at the completion of the program?
Electronic direct deposits may take up to 60 days. Regular checks may take up to 90 days.
- What is the vendor form? How and why should I complete it?
The Ohio State University requires all institute participants to submit a completed vendor form in order to receive a payment. This form establishes participants as vendors in the university system.
- If I completed a vendor form in previous years, can I use the vendor information that I have on file?
No. Ohio State recently updated its vendor form protocols. As such, all participants must submit new vendor forms, regardless of previous enrollment.
Program Expectations
- What is the institute’s policy on attendance?
DSI participants are expected to attend all of the sessions unless there are exigent circumstances. We understand that life happens and conflicts may arise. However, we encourage participants to consider applying for the following year, if they are unable to fulfill this commitment. Please note that if participants are unable to attend the final field trip, the final stipend amount will be prorated down to $250.
- What is the format of the sessions?
Sessions may be virtual or hybrid depending on the format indicated by the instructor.
Program Materials
- When will I receive DSI books and materials?
Participants will receive their textbooks and other relevant resources at the mandatory orientation.
Email Program Coordinator Siatta Dennis-Brown (dennis-brown.1@osu.edu).