Unpacking the Environmental Protection Agencies' Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit

Submitted by Michael Cruse on Thu, 05/30/2024 - 13:51
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Location
LINCS Asynchronous Discussion
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Curious about using your classroom as a teaching tool? Join the Science and Learners with Disabilities groups to learn about the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA)'s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit. 

This toolkit shows you how to "carry out a practical plan to improve indoor air problems at little- or no-cost using straightforward activities..." During this asynchronous discussion you will discover how these interactive resources and checklists can be used to identify and respond to potential causes of health problems. 

Participants will be supported in thinking how these resources can be used in direct instruction within science-based curricula.

Comments

Today, let’s explore the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit

Here is the link to the resource https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/indoor-air-quality-tools-schools-action-kit

During our discussion today, we would like to highlight two specific resources: 

  1. What specific strategies or practices can educators implement to raise awareness about indoor air quality among students and staff?
  2. How can the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Reference Guide be integrated into existing curriculum or lesson plans effectively?
  3. What are some creative ways to engage students in learning about indoor air quality using the resources provided in the Action Kit?
  4. How can the Problem Solving Tool from the Action Kit be utilized to identify and address specific indoor air quality issues within a school setting?

I know from working with learners that some can be engaged in learning about IAQ based on personal health conditions and conversations around health disparities.  Your question asking about creative ways to engage students in learning about indoor air quality made me think about both using the Action Kit and other resources.  

For learners who come with an interest in the topic, it can be easy to spark engagement.  Others may need a hook to help them understand the relevance and importance of the topic.  With these learners, I like to look for local stories, like this one in Baltimore, or this one in L.A., that highlight air quality issues in your local community.   There are also other environmental films that look at the environmental disparities that exist in our communities.  Sometimes these can lead viewers to feel overwhelmed and a little helpless to affect change.  This is where tools like the Action Kit are great, because they focus on smaller environments - classrooms and offices - where even small changes can have a big impact.

As a first step, I like the Action Kit's checklists because they encourage learners to be observers of their school environment and to collect information to help make assessments and informed decisions to improve everyone's health.  I'm curious what other ways teachers are using this and other resources to engage learners in understanding environmental issues that impact their health.