Teacher MWEE questionnaire

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NOAA B-WET Teacher MWEE Survey
Revised 2015
Introduction
This is a voluntary survey.
Our records indicate that some time ago you participated in a Meaningful Watershed
Educational Experience (MWEE) professional development (PD) funded by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Bay Watershed Education and Training program
(NOAA B-WET). We would like to get your feedback on implementing MWEEs with your
students, if you did so since the PD.
MWEEs are multi-stage activities that include learning both outdoors and in the classroom, and
aim to increase the understanding and stewardship of watersheds and related ocean, coastal,
riverine, estuarine, and Great Lakes ecosystems of all participants. MWEEs for students consist
of multiple components: issue definition and background research, outdoor field activities,
stewardship action projects, synthesis and conclusions. In addition, MWEEs should include
teacher participation for the duration of the MWEE, be integrated with classroom curriculum, use
the local context for learning, consist of a set of activities over time, and incorporate NOAA
assets. Click here to see a detailed MWEE definition.
You will be asked about a range of practices and outcomes that represent the diversity of
MWEEs, some of which may not apply directly to your experience. It is acceptable to answer
“not applicable” (NA) in those instances.
Your responses will be entered anonymously and will not be associated with you as an
individual. THANK YOU in advance for your candor and thoughtfulness in answering the
questions. Your responses will be aggregated with other teachers’ responses, and will be used
by NOAA B-WET and B-WET-funded organizations to improve MWEE PD and student
programs.
It will take about 20-30 minutes to complete this survey, depending on the nature of your MWEE
implementation experience.
Note: You can close the survey and return at a later time to the same place as long as you use
the same computer and that computer will save and retain the Qualtrics survey cookie (some
work and public computers do not save and/or retain cookies). We recommend that you
complete the survey in one sitting, if possible, to avoid issues with returning to the survey.
Thank you.
If you have technical issues or questions about this survey, please contact Bronwen Rice,
NOAA B-WET National Coordinator, [email protected]

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Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
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gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of
information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other suggestions for
reducing this burden to Bronwen Rice, NOAA Office of Education, Herbert C. Hoover Building,
Room 6863, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20230.
Responses are voluntary and collected and maintained as anonymous data. Information will be
treated in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552).
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall
any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject
to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
How long ago did you complete a NOAA-BWET-funded professional development focused on
watersheds (ocean, coastal, riverine, estuarine, Great Lakes) (also known as a Meaningful
Watershed Educational Experience professional development or MWEE PD)?
 I did not complete a MWEE PD. (55)
 Less than 1 week ago (1)
 1-2 weeks ago (2)
 3-4 weeks ago (3)
 5-8 weeks ago (4)
 9-12 weeks ago (5)
 More than 12 weeks ago (6)
MPDQ3 Are you currently a PreK-12 teacher or educator?
 No (0)
 Yes (1)
 Logic: Must select Yes to continue the survey

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MPDQ5 In what setting do you primarily teach? (select one)
 Public school (1)
 Private school (2)
 Non-formal education (e.g., environmental centers, zoos, museums, interpretive programs at
local or state level parks, youth organizations, summer camps, after school programs) (3)
 Home-school (4)
 Other (88)
Logic: Must select 1 or 2 to continue the survey
UniqueID To allow us to compare your past, current, and future responses, please create a
unique 8-digit ID number using the 2 digits of your birth month, the 2 digits of your birth day, and
the last 4 digits of most often used phone number. If you were born on March 9 and your home
phone is 410.719.1234, your ID number would be 03091234.
MPDGQ1 In which region did you teach this past year? (check one)
 California (1)
 Chesapeake Bay (2)
 Great Lakes (3)
 Gulf of Mexico (4)
 Hawaii (5)
 New England (6)
 Pacific Northwest (7)
 Other (please describe) (88) ____________________
MPDQ8 In what 5-digit zip code is your school located?
How many years have you been an educator? (select one)
1 to 5 years
6 to 10 years
11 to 20 years
More than 20 years
In which grade level do you primarily teach? (select one)
 PreK (1)
 Elementary (2)
 Middle (3)
 High (4)
 Other (88)
Which of these categories best describes your school’s community (during the school year)?
Rural (population of less than 10,000) (1)
Town/Suburban (population 10,000-99,999) (2)
Small urban (population 100,000-250,000) (3)
Urban (population greater than 250,000) (4)

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About what percent of your students are (percent should equal 100):
American Indian or Alaska Native (1)
Asian (2)
Black or African American (3)
Hispanic or Latino (4)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (5)
White (6)
Multi-racial
Don't know (99)
Is the school where you teach a Title 1 school?
No (0)
Yes (1)
NA (55)
MQ9 In the past 12 months, did you implement a Meaningful Watershed Educational
Experience (MWEE) with your students? MWEEs are investigative, project-oriented, sustained
activities that include one or more outdoor experiences, consider the watershed as a system,
and are an integral part of a school instructional program.
 No (0)
 Yes (1)
If no: Why were you not able to implement a MWEE with your students? (text box)
Logic: If no, end of questionnaire.
MGQ37_1 How many of your students participated in a MWEE during the most recent school
year? (Please provide your best estimate, NOT a range)
About ___ students (1)

MGQ45 On average, did students participate in a MWEE over the course of:
 Less than a week
 One day (1)
 2-6 days (2)
 One A week (3)
 2-3Multiple weeks (4)
 One month (5)
 2-3Multiple months (6)
 4-8 months (7)
 A full school year (about 9 months) (8)
 A full calendar year (9)
 Multiple years (10)

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MGQ43 On average during the last school year, about how many hours did a typical student
spend involved in MWEE activities? (check one)
 None (0)
 1-52 hours (1)
 3-5 hours (2)
 6-9 hours (3)
 10-2416 hours (4)
 17-24 hours (5)
 25-40 hours (6)
 More than 40 hours (7)
MGQ44 On average during the last school year, about how many hours did a typical student
spend outdoors during MWEE activities? (check one)
 None (0)
 1-52 hours (1)
 3-5 hours (2)
 6-9 hours (3)
 10-2416 hours (4)
 17-24 hours (5)
 25-40 hours (6)
 More than 40 hours (7)
Logic: If answer to MGQ44 On average during the last school year, about how many hours did
a typical student spend outdoors during MWEE activities? Is not None
About how many separate outdoor learning experiences did students have during their MWEE?
(check one for each row)
I don’t know None One Two Three or more
Led by your organization
Led by a teacher
Led by another provider
MQ29 Where did the outdoor component of your students’ MWEEs occur?
No (0)

Yes (1)

On school grounds (1)





Near the school (1-5 minute walk) (2)





Off school grounds, within walking distance
Walkable from the school (more than 5 minutes) (3)





Off school grounds, requiring transportation
In a location to which the students were bussed or driven (4)





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MQ30

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following:
NA
(55)

Strongly
disagree 1
(1)

2
(2)

3
(3)

4
(4)

5
(5)

6
(6)

Strongly
agree 7
(7)

Overall, what I taught my students
about watersheds in the classroom
was closely integrated with
students' outdoor learning
experience(s). (1)

















My students' outdoor learning
experiences were designed to help
them understand what they had
been introduced to during regular
science class (2)

















My students' outdoor learning
experiences were designed to
reinforce what students learned
during regular science class (3)

















MQ31 BEFORE students participated in their outdoor learning experience:
NA
(55)

Strongly
disagree 1
(1)

2
(2)

3
(3)

4
(4)

5
(5)

6
(6)

Strongly
agree 7 (7)

I provided them with detailed
information about what they
were going to do (1)

















I let students know what
activities they were going to
do (2)

















I spent a lot of time preparing
students for what to expect (3)

















I introduced relevant science
concepts (4)

















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MQ32 DURING the outdoor learning experience(s), my students:
NA
(55)

Strongly
disagree 1
(1)

2
(2)

3
(3)

4
(4)

5
(5)

6
(7)

Strongly
agree 7 (7)

Conducted a one-time data
or sample collection (1)

















Conducted water quality
monitoring over a period of
time (2)

















During the MWEE (outdoors or in classroom), my students: (choose No or Yes for each
statement)
No

Yes

Did NOT collect data or make observations
Conducted a one-time data collection or observation
Conducted multiple data collections or observations over a
period of time

MQ33 Back in the classroom AFTER students participated in the outdoor learning
experience(s):
NA
(55)

Strongly
disagree 1
(1)

2
(2)

3
(3)

4
(4)

5
(5)

6
(6)

Strongly
agree 7 (7)

They discussed results based
on their observations (1)

















They offered explanations for
what they observed (2)

















They were expected to draw on
what had been learned (3)

















I spent a lot of time to make
sure the students had
integrated what they had
learned (4)

















Logic: All MWEEs
MGQ46 Were your typical MWEEs focused only on science concepts, or on concepts from
multiple disciplines (e.g., science, math, social studies, literature, art, music)?
 Only science concepts (1)
 Concepts from multiple disciplines, including science (2)
 Other (88)

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In what subject(s) were your organization's typical MWEEs implemented? (select all that apply):
•
Science
•
Technology
•
Engineering
•
Math
•
Social studies
•
English language arts
•
Fine arts
•
Music
•
Other (please describe)
MGQ41 To what extent was the content of your students’ MWEEs aligned with:
NA
(55)

To no
extent 1
(1)

2
(2)

3
(3)

4
(4)

To a great
extent 5 (5)

school district education standards (1)













sState education standards (2)













Next Generation Science Standards
national education standards (3)













Common Core Standards - Mathematics













Common Core Standards - English
Language Arts













rRegional environmental/natural
resources management priorities (4)













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MGQ51 Did students participate in any of the following activities to protect and/or restore
ocean, coastal, and/or Great Lakes watersheds during their MWEE? (please indicate no or yes
for each activity)
No
(0)

Yes
(1)

Created a schoolyard or backyard habitat (1)





Conserved water at school to protect the local watershed (2)





Installed a rain barrel at school (3)





Reduced litter at the school (4)





Gave presentation(s) about the local watershed (e.g., for school, other
organizations) (5)





Participated in an event to raise awareness about the importance of
watersheds (6)





Helped clean up or take care of a local stream or beach (7)





Participated in a restoration activity (e.g., planting trees) to benefit watersheds
(8)





Told others about ways they can protect their local watersheds (9)





Did students participate in any of these actions to protect or restore watersheds during your
organization’s B-WET-funded MWEEs? (select all categories that apply)
 The students did NOT participate in any watershed protection or restoration actions as part
of their MWEE.
 Watershed Restoration or Protection (e.g., create schoolyard habitat, planting trees or
grasses, invasive species removal, cleanup [e.g., beach, stream, school, community), raise
& release (e.g., fish, oysters, turtles), stormwater management (e.g., rain garden, paint
storm drains]
o Briefly describe the actions (text box)
 Everyday Choices [e.g., reduce/reuse/recycle/upcycle, transportation (e.g., carpooling, bike
riding, mass transit, walking), composting, energy conservation, water conservation]
o Briefly describe the actions (text box)
 Community Engagement [e.g., outreach, presentations, social media, messaging at
community events/fairs/festivals, event-organizing, mentoring, PSAs, flyers, posters]
o Briefly describe the actions (text box)
 Civic Action [e.g., town meetings, voting, writing elected officials/decision makers,
advocating for policy change]
o Briefly describe the actions (text box)
 Other
o Briefly describe the actions (text box)

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MGQ47 Were any NOAA resources were used as part of MWEES for students?
 No (0)
 Yes (1)
MGQ48 Which NOAA resources were used as part of your typical student MWEE? (check all
that apply)
Not sure
(77)

No
(0)

Yes
(1)

Information from NOAA research studies or reports (1)







Data collected by and accessible through NOAA, IF YES: Name
the NOAA data source: (2)







NOAA expert (e.g., scientist, educator, Sea Grant staff member,
policy expert) (3)







NOAA curricula and education programs, IF YES: Name the
curricula or programs: (4)







NOAA labs or facilities, IF YES: Name the lab or facility: (5)







NOAA National Marine Sanctuary (6)







NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve (7)







•
None
•
Information from NOAA websites or reports (e.g., NOAA website, NOAA Education
Resources webpage, NOAA Climate Portal, Marine Debris Program Education webpage, NOAA
FishWatch, NERRS education website)
o
IF YES, Name the websites or reports:
•
Data sets collected by and accessible through NOAA (e.g., NOAA View, NOAA Digital
Coast, NOAA Buoys, Real-time Tides and Currents, NERRS SWMP data)
o
IF YES, Name the NOAA data sets: ___________________
•
NOAA experts (e.g., scientist, educator, Sea Grant staff member, policy expert)
o
IF YES, Name the NOAA experts:
•
NOAA curricula and education programs (e.g., Data in the Classroom, Estuaries 101
curriculum, Ocean Exploration)
o
IF YES, Name the curricula or programs: ________________
•
NOAA labs or facilities (e.g., Northeast Fisheries Science Center Milford Lab, NOAA
Chesapeake Bay Office Oxford Lab, Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Pascagoula MS,
NOAA Science On a Sphere sites, Sea Grant floating classroom vessel)
o
IF YES, Name the labs or facilities:________________________
•
NOAA National Marine Sanctuary, http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/welcome.html
o
IF YES, Name the sanctuary:
•
NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve, http://www.nerrs.noaa.gov
o
IF YES, Name the reserve:

Page 11 of 15
MGQ49 What education methods were used during your students’ MWEEs? (select No or Yes
for each method)
No
(0)

Yes
(1)

Outdoor field trip or field work (i.e., excursion to learn about natural history and
ecology in the outdoors, may or may not include data collection) (1)





STEM education (i.e., an approach to teaching that integrates the content and
skills of science, technology, engineering, and math to inspire students and
prepare them for 21st century jobs)
Field work (i.e., scientific study carried out somewhere other than in a
classroom/laboratory, includes data collection) (2)





Place-based education (i.e., an interdisciplinary instructional strategy that uses the
local environment and community as the context for teaching and learning) (3)





Scientific-inquiry-based learning (i.e., an instructional strategy that gives students
the opportunity to explore an idea or question. To arrive at an answer or to better
understand the concept, students often collect and analyze data) (4)





Issue investigation (i.e., an interdisciplinary instructional strategy that engages
learners in investigating complex, real-world environmental issues and problemsolving as the context for teaching and learning) (5)





Service learning (i.e., an instructional strategy that integrates meaningful
community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience,
teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities) (6)





Answer If What education methods were used during your students’ MW... Scientificinquiry-based learning) - Yes Is Selected
MGQ50 Which of the following steps did you engage students in...
No (0)

Yes (1)

Formulating scientific questions they can answer using data (1)





Making predictions or hypotheses (2)





Collecting data or using existing data (3)





Analyzing and interpreting data (4)





Making conclusions and adjusting predictions/hypotheses (5)





DevelopGiving presentations of their findings (6)





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MGQ53 As a result of participating in MWEEs, students are better able to: Did your typical
MWEE include any of the following learning objectives? Students will be able to:
Strongly
disagree 1
(1)No (0)

2
(2)Yes
(1)

3
(3)

4
(4)

5
(5)

6
(6)

Strongly
agree 7
(7)

Define the term "watershed" (1)















Identify their local watershed(s)
(ocean, coastal, riverine,
estuarine, Great Lakes) (2)















Identify how watersheds are
connected to the ocean via
streams, rivers, and human-made
structures (3)















Identify the functions that occur in
a watershed (transport, store, and
cycle water) (4)















Recognize that both natural
processes and human activities
affect water flow and water quality
in watersheds (5)















Identify connections between
human welfare and water flow and
quality (6)















Identify possible point and nonpoint sources of water pollution (7)















Identify actions individuals can
engage intake to protect or
/restore water quality in
watersheds (8)















Beneft_Txt What is the most important benefit of MWEEs for your students?

Page 13 of 15
MGQ52 As a result of participating in MWEEs, students:
NA
(55)

Strongly
disagree 1
(1)

2
(2)

3
(3)

4
(4)

5
(5)

6
(6)

Strongly
agree 7
(7)

Know more about the ocean

















Know more about climate change

















Know more about watersheds (1)

















Express greater caring and
concern for their local watershed
(ocean, coastal, riverine,
estuarine, Great Lakes) (2)

















Are more confident in their ability
to protect and/or restore
watersheds (3)

















Are more likely to act to protect or
restore watersheds (4)



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



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

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Are better able to make informed
decisions about how to protect or
restore watersheds (5)



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







Are better able to conduct
scientific investigations (6)



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



Are better able to understand the
nature of scientific research (7)



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



Are more likely to express an
interest in pursuing science
careers (8)



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Perform better in science (9)



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Perform better academically (10)



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Perform better on state
standardized tests (11)



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Are more engaged in their
science learning (12)

















MQ24 As a result of participating in my typical MWEEs, students are more likely to take these
types of actions to protect and/or restore ocean, coastal, and/or Great Lakes watersheds
(ocean, coastal, riverine, estuarine, Great Lakes).
NA
(55)
Watershed Restoration or Protection
(e.g., create schoolyard habitat, planting
trees or grasses, invasive species



Strongly
disagree
1 (1)


2
(2)

3
(3)

4
(4)

5
(5)

6
(6)











Strongly
agree 7
(7)


Page 14 of 15
removal, cleanup [e.g., beach, stream,
school, community), raise & release
(e.g., fish, oysters, turtles), stormwater
management (e.g., rain garden, paint
storm drains]
Create a schoolyard or backyard habitat
(1)
Everyday Choices [e.g.,
reduce/reuse/recycle/upcycle,
transportation (e.g., carpooling, bike
riding, mass transit, walking),
composting, energy conservation, water
conservation]
Conserve water at school to protect the
local watershed (2)





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Community Engagement [e.g., outreach,
presentations, social media, messaging
at community events/fairs/festivals,
event-organizing, mentoring, PSAs,
flyers, posters]
Install a rain barrel at school (3)

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Civic Action [e.g., town meetings, voting,
writing elected officials/decision makers,
advocating for policy change]
Reduce litter at the school (4)

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Give presentation(s) about the local
watershed (e.g., for school, other
organizations) (5)

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Participate in an event to raise
awareness about the importance of
watersheds (6)

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Help clean up or take care of a local
stream or beach (7)

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Participate in a restoration activity (e.g.,
planting trees) to benefit watersheds (8)

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Tell others about ways they can protect
their local watersheds (9)

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Other (please describe) (10)

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Help_Txt What could be done by your PD providerothers to help you develop and implement
improved MWEEs?

Page 15 of 15
MGPDQ74 The questionnaire was ... (select one for each line)
1 (1)

2 (2)

3 (3)

4 (4)

5 (5)

6 (6)

7 (7)

Difficult to complete:Easy to complete (1)

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Not informative:Informative (2)

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Long:Short (3)

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ImprvQ_Txt How can this questionnaire be improved?
Cmmts_Txt Do you have anyWhat final comments you would you like to share about MWEEs?

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