Topic outline

  • Introduction to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience

    • We are excited to announce that MWEE 101 has moved to the North American Association for Environmental Education eeLEARN platform! The MWEE framework and this course started in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed but is now being used nationwide.
      Please navigate to the eeLearn MWEE 101 course to complete this course. If you are looking for Maryland Continuing Professional Development credits or Pennsylvania Act 48 hours, you will find a form to submit at the completion of the course to request these credits.
      If you are currently taking this course on Chesapeake Exploration, please complete it soon! The Chesapeake Exploration MWEE 101 course will close on January 1, 2026.
      Send any questions to Krysta at krysta.hougen@noaa.gov

      MWEE 101

      Cover of the Educator's Guide to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience

      2,500 certificates and counting!

      This course is first in a series. At the completion of this course, consider taking MWEE 201 to develop a deeper understanding of the goals, design, and implementation of the MWEE model. If you will be educating others on MWEEs, check out the Facilitator's Guide to MWEE Training to help you plan your training.

      This course is made up of three lessons: Why MWEEs?, What Makes a MWEE?, and Planning and Evaluating MWEEs. Each of the three lessons are followed by a reflection lesson. You will contribute to a single reflection document throughout the course and upload this document at the completion of the course if you want a Certificate of Completion. Most participants report spending 5-10 hours taking this course.

      Course Objectives:

      • Participants will learn the history of the MWEE and it's connections to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
      • Participants will identify how students, teachers, and the community could benefit from a MWEE.
      • Participants will review evidence for how a MWEE can support a variety of learning outcomes.
      • Participants will identify their role in the MWEE Essential Elements and Supporting Practices and how they can incorporate student voice and choice.
      • Participants will evaluate a completed MWEE program.

      Please send any comments, feedback or questions about this course to Krysta Hougen-Ryall at krysta.hougen@noaa.gov.

      After completing all three lessons of this course, you will see a MWEE 101 Completion form appear. Complete this form to receive your certificate of completion (15 clock hours) and credits for Maryland (1 CPD credit). It may take up to 2 weeks for your coursework to be reviewed and for you to receive your certificate.

       

  • Are you assigning MWEE 101 with your Maryland workshop, training or college course?

    Workshop, Training, or Course Instructors: We require instructors to review their participant's work in this course. Please contact Krysta Hougen-Ryall at krysta.hougen@noaa.gov to learn how.

    • Make sure you are in the right spot!

      Stop sign

      This version of MWEE 101 is only for Maryland educators needing to earn 1 CPD credit to renew their professional Maryland Educator License.

      We invite everyone else to complete MWEE 101 on NAAEE's eeLearn platform HERE. Thank you so much for your interest in MWEEs!

      • Prepare for Instructions!

        Cartoon of a student pushing hard on a door when it says to "pull"

        You are about to dive into some instructions. We are always working on improving these instructions and making them as easy to follow as possible. Yes, there are a couple steps to follow and they are all necessary! 

        All these steps allow us to keep this course self-paced with a rolling enrollment. These instructions are to ensure your progress in this course and your submitted essays are saved and, we are notified if and when you want your work in this course reviewed to receive a Certificate of Completion.

        To make sure you don't become this student (pictured) - send any questions about taking this course to Krysta Hougen-Ryall at krysta.hougen@noaa.gov.

        • Start Here

          To start this course, you need to (1) create an account in Chesapeake Exploration and (2) enroll in MWEE 101.

          Learn how by watching the videos. Click the expansion button within each video to watch it full screen; there is no sound. You can review the video transcripts and slides from the videos at your own pace by clicking into each video's page.

        • Pre-Assessment

          To access the MWEE 101 Lessons, you must first complete this Pre-Assessment. Make sure you are currently logged into your Chesapeake Exploration account and enrolled in this course.

          This pre-assessment was added on June 3, 2022. If you had previously taken the course before this date, you will need to complete this assessment to make the lessons appear again. We also updated the way we collect essay responses. Contact Krysta Hougen-Ryall at krysta.hougen@noaa.gov if you would like a copy of essays submitted before June 3rd.

          • Pre-Assessment Quiz
            View Receive a grade

          • Did you complete the Pre-Assessment but you still don't see the lessons? Make sure you are enrolled in the course following the video instructions above and then re-take the quiz.