This brief from EdPrepLab and Trinity University describes the development, implementation, and impact of Trinity’s Natural Environment and Well-Being course designed by faculty members who sought ways to incorporate the benefits of natural environments and science of learning and development to support the well-being of teacher candidates. This interdisciplinary 3-credit course draws on ecology, psychology, urban studies, history, sociology, and education and  includes four major learning experiences designed with an authentic experiential component. Two semester-long assignments (sit-spots and photo stories) help students develop practices to realize the restorative benefits of natural environments, practices that teacher candidates can also use with PreK–12 students.

Citation

Allen, L., Crim, C., Sosnaud, B., Barnett, E. King, J, and Rushing, J. (2024). Weaving Well-Being Into Educator Preparation [Brief]. EdPrepLab.