Chandler-Gilbert Community Chandler-Gilbert Community College Environmental Technology College Environmental Technology

Center Center

Dr. Darien Ripple - ETC CoordinatorDr. Darien Ripple - ETC Coordinator

Environmental Environmental TechnologyTechnology

CenterCenter

Part IPart IHistory & Strategic History & Strategic

PlanPlan

Part II Part II ETC Pedagogy & ETC Pedagogy &

OutreachOutreach

Part IIIPart IIIExperiential Learning Experiential Learning and Student Projectsand Student Projects

The goal of the Environmental Technology Center (ETC)Environmental Technology Center (ETC) is to maintain a low-impact and cost efficient living classroom. The ETC serves as an area for experiential learning projects that will allow students and community members the ability work on the evolving structure and surrounding gardens. The ETC seeks out ways of being sustainable while attempting to create a sense of place within the community.

Historical Historical DevelopmenDevelopmen

tt

Fall 2006 Fall 2006 Darien Ripple presented a Darien Ripple presented a paper to administration paper to administration

calling for the creation of calling for the creation of an interdisciplinary an interdisciplinary

academic certificate in academic certificate in Sustainability and Sustainability and

Ecological Literacy and Ecological Literacy and the development of an the development of an

Environmental Technology Environmental Technology Center Center

Spring 2007Spring 2007The proposal was The proposal was

introduced to the Global introduced to the Global Learning CommitteeLearning Committee

20082008 Seed money from a Seed money from a

Shared Futures Grant was Shared Futures Grant was to be used to create the to be used to create the

ETCETC

A consultant provided A consultant provided suggestions to construct suggestions to construct

a simple structure.a simple structure.

An preliminary plan was An preliminary plan was approved by the CGCC approved by the CGCC

Spring 2009The ETC location

was approved and the first student

graduated with the Sustainability and Ecological Literacy

certificate

Spring 2010 Spring 2010 The first gardens beganThe first gardens began

Summer 2012Summer 2012A new ramada with a solar A new ramada with a solar

roof was built and sponsored roof was built and sponsored by by

Salt River ProjectSalt River Project

Current ProjectsCurrent Projects6 Clubs have garden plots6 Clubs have garden plots

Educational collaborations Educational collaborations with 11 CGCC instructorswith 11 CGCC instructors

Education projects with Education projects with 4 public Schools 4 public Schools

Daisy troop educational Daisy troop educational tourstours

Native Seed ProjectNative Seed Project

Adobe Brick ProjectAdobe Brick Project

Chandler-Gilbert Community Chandler-Gilbert Community College College

2007-20122007-2012STRATEGIC GOALS & OBJECTIVESSTRATEGIC GOALS & OBJECTIVES

GOAL #4 - Advance Global Learning &GOAL #4 - Advance Global Learning &SustainabilitySustainability

ObjectivesObjectives

4.1 Embed Global learning and sustainability into the 4.1 Embed Global learning and sustainability into the curriculum.curriculum.

4.2 Expand and enhance programs and services that 4.2 Expand and enhance programs and services that increase student and employee awareness and increase student and employee awareness and understanding of global issues that sustain life and understanding of global issues that sustain life and learning.learning.

4.3 Collaborate with external partners to support 4.3 Collaborate with external partners to support programs for a socially, environmentally, and programs for a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable society.economically sustainable society.

4.4 Examine current practices, as well as opportunities, 4.4 Examine current practices, as well as opportunities, to move the college toward a highly sustainable, to move the college toward a highly sustainable, carbon neutral mode of operation and work with carbon neutral mode of operation and work with stakeholders and vendors aligned with principles of stakeholders and vendors aligned with principles of sustainability.sustainability.

GOAL #6 - Strengthen CommunityGOAL #6 - Strengthen CommunityEngagement and Civic ParticipationEngagement and Civic Participation

Objectives:Objectives:

6.1 Strengthen and expand community and 6.1 Strengthen and expand community and corporate partnershipscorporate partnerships

6.2 Expand outreach and promotional efforts to 6.2 Expand outreach and promotional efforts to inform and engage the community.inform and engage the community.

6.3 Encourage a culture of civic engagement 6.3 Encourage a culture of civic engagement and social responsibility.and social responsibility.

Academic Certificate in Sustainability and Ecological Literacy

Description: The Certificate enhances students’ understanding of sustainable living practices associated with economics, equity and the environment. Through a combination of coursework and experiential learning, students engage in critical thinking, inquiry, and discourse, skills necessary for becoming socially responsible citizens who are environmentally aware. The certificate is designed for, although not limited to, students seeking an Associate in Arts Degree and planning transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Total Credits: 16

Required Course: Credits: 3 -PHI216 Environmental Ethics

Required Science Based Course: Select 4 credits from the following courses

BIO105 Environmental Biology with Lab (4) or GLG110 (GLG111) Geological Disasters with Lab (4)

Required Humanities, Social Science Courses and Wellness: Credits: 6

Students will choose 2 different courses from the following list:

ENH206 Nature and Environmental Literature (3), ENH260 Literature of the Southwest (3),

HUM201 Humanities: Universal Themes (3), SBU200 Society and Business (SB) (G),

REC150AB Outdoor Adventure Skills (3)

Humanities and Social Science Electives: Credits: 3

Students will choose 1 course from the following list

HIS110 World History to 1500 (3), HIS111 World History 1500 to the Present (3)

HUM250 Ideas And Values in The Humanities (3), PHI104 World Philosophy (3)

POS120 World Politics (3), PSY132 Psychology and Culture (3)

SOC101 Introduction to Sociology (3)11

Defining a Sense of

Place

Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is “a process in which the learner works on a learning task or activity and is largely independent of the teacher who acts as manager of the learning programme and as resource person” (Higgs, 1988, pp.40-41).

Observation and Reflection

“The days following the development of the mixing pit, people came and went, but not me. I was having a good time. Adobe making gave me a sense of belonging. I was content that somebody appreciated the skill of the common people and realized that in many ways it makes a lot more sense than our so called advanced technology. I was ready to show the world the beauty and magic of adobe bricks.”

Experiential Learning

Sensory gardens

Edible Schoolyard

Learning Stations

Experiments

Place-Place-based based

educationeducationCoordinator- Darien Ripple Coordinator- Darien Ripple

History of the area – Paul Petrequin History of the area – Paul Petrequin

Georegion – Roy SchiesserGeoregion – Roy Schiesser

Service Learning – Alison WhitingService Learning – Alison Whiting

Educational Outreach –Chris Educational Outreach –Chris SchnickSchnick

Educational Materials – Larry Miller Educational Materials – Larry Miller 

Instructional Technology – Tom Instructional Technology – Tom FosterFoster

Applied Engineering – Bassam Applied Engineering – Bassam MatarMatar

In regards to the place-In regards to the place-based education, faculty based education, faculty

and staff performed and staff performed particular roles to particular roles to

enhance the student enhance the student learning process.learning process.

Faculty ProjectsOutreach to Area Schools

Soil Temperature Analysis

Food Bank Garden

Applied Math & Plant Growth

Composting & Writing

Computers & Soil Testing

Adobe and Art

Environmental Ethics & Food

Various Honors Projects

Student ProjectsStudent Projects

Rain HarvestingRain Harvesting CompostCompost

Pepsi GrantPepsi Grant Public relationsPublic relations

LED LightingLED Lighting Mixed Use GardensMixed Use Gardens

Green HouseGreen House Native seedsNative seeds

Solar PanelsSolar Panels Green RoofsGreen Roofs

Soil TestingSoil Testing Adobe BricksAdobe Bricks““This project to me was not simply a This project to me was not simply a project of researching green roofs but to project of researching green roofs but to also research what it means to live also research what it means to live greener.greener.””

Adobe Project

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Building Communities

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Academic Excellence Through Experiential Learning

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A Sustainable FutureA Sustainable Future

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