Thanks for your participation in the SYEFEST project this past school year. In order to assess the success of the project and help us shape future efforts, please take a few minutes to respond to these questions. Please use the back of the paper if you need more space for any of your responses. Your feedback is vital to us and very much appreciated.

Name:

(   ) frequently, about once a week (30-40 times each school year)

(   ) often, about 2-3 times a month (15-30 times each school year)

(   ) occasionally, about once a month (6-15 times each school year)

(   ) infrequently, every couple of months (3-5 times each school year)

(   ) almost never, once or twice a year

(   ) never

(   ) more than this year (   ) about the same as this year (   ) less than this year

administrators:
a lot of support   1  2  3  4  5   no support

other teachers:
a lot of support   1  2  3  4  5   no support

your science curriculum:
a lot of support   1  2  3  4  5   no support

available equipment:
a lot of support   1  2  3  4  5   no support

grounds/maintenance staff:
a lot of support   1  2  3  4  5   no support

parents:
a lot of support   1  2  3  4  5   no support

SYEFEST Lead Ecologist:
a lot of support   1  2  3  4  5   no support

SYEFEST Lead Teacher:
a lot of support   1  2  3  4  5   no support

other SYEFEST teachers in your building:
a lot of support   1  2  3  4  5   no support

SYEFEST teachers from other schools:
a lot of support   1  2  3  4  5   no support

the national SYEFEST projects:
a lot of support   1  2  3  4  5   no support

(   ) more than this year       (   ) about the same as this year       (   ) less than this year

(   ) more than this year       (   ) about the same as this year       (   ) less than this year

6. Please list the schoolyard ecology activities you have done since the beginning of the school year. Give the topic, with a brief one line description, and indicate when you did each and whether each was done indoors or outdoors.

7. Rate your schoolyard as an ecology learning environment.
not at all   1  2  3  4  5   rich

8. Describe any improvements you made to your schoolyard as a result of your involvement with SYEFEST.

10. Indicate, by circling the appropriate number, your level of concern about each of the following issues:

How will schoolyard ecology fit into my current science curriculum?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Do I have enough knowledge about ecology?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Do I have enough knowledge about scientific inquiry?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

How will students respond to schoolyard ecology?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Will there be time to use the schoolyard for science?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Will students of all abilities respond to schoolyard ecology?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Will I have the resources to teach ecology in the schoolyard?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Will I have to alter my teaching style because of this project?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

How will I evaluate student progress?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Will class management be more challenging outdoors?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Where will I get help if and when I need it?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Will I be able to integrate ecology with other subjects?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Can I do inquiry-based teaching?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Will students do okay on district and state tests?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Will I be able to recognize my schoolyard's potential?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Will I be able to incorporate cooperative learning?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

Will I be able to make use of my schoolyard's potential?
not concerned   1  2  3  4  5   very concerned

11. Overall, how would your rate the Follow-up Sessions?
almost a waste of time   1  2  3  4  5   excellent

12. What did you like best about the Follow-up Sessions?

16. Overall, how helpful was the Lead Teacher as a SYEFEST facilitator?
not helpful   1  2  3  4  5   exceptional
Please explain, and give suggestions for next year:

17. Overall, how helpful was the Lead Ecologist as a SYEFEST facilitator?
not helpful   1  2  3  4  5   exceptional
Please explain, and give suggestions for next year:

18. We'd like you to assess yourself in the following areas, each relating directly to one of our goals for SYEFEST. Consider where you were before the program and where you are now, thereby reflecting on how much you've grown. Include comments if you'd like.

Your knowledge of ecological principles and concepts underlying schoolyard inquiries.
BEFORE:  No formal knowledge  1  2  3  4  5  major ecological ideas
NOWNo formal knowledgenot at all  1  2  3  4  5  major ecological ideas



Your knowledge of local natural history - the organisms in your schoolyard.
BEFORE:  Basic awareness only  1  2  3  4  5  broad knowledge
NOW:       Basic awareness only  1  2  3  4  5  broad knowledge



Your ability to recognize the teaching potential of your schoolyard.
BEFORE:  See little to no chance  1  2  3  4  5  See a full range of opportunities
NOW:       See little to no chance  1  2  3  4  5  See a full range of opportunities



Your level of comfort in actually teaching in the schoolyard.
BEFORE:  Very fearful, insecure  1  2  3  4  5  Completely comfortable
NOW:       Very fearful, insecure  1  2  3  4  5  Completely comfortable



How much you actually use the schoolyard as a teaching resource.
BEFORE:  No use of the SY  1  2  3  4  5  studies as often as possible
NOW:       No use of the SY  1  2  3  4  5  studies as often as possible



Your knowledge of the inquiry process (i.e., how scientists create knowledge).
BEFORE:  No understanding of  1  2  3  4  5  Excellent understanding
NOW:       No understanding of  1  2  3  4  5  Excellent understanding



Your ability to use the inquiry process to ask and answer your own questions.
BEFORE:  At a loss for how to  1  2  3  4  5  Excellent understanding of questions with insight
NOW:       At a loss for how to  1  2  3  4  5  Excellent understanding of questions with insight



How much you actually use an inquiry approach to teaching schoolyard ecology.
BEFORE:  Only approaches that kids ask  1  2  3  4  5  investigations on genuine questions
NOW:       Only approaches that kids ask  1  2  3  4  5  investigations on genuine questions

Please feel free to add, on a separate sheet, any information about your SYEFEST experience which you think might be helpful.