Ensuring teacher education program success through formative assessments: an overview of the Wisconsin K-12 energy education program

Abstract

The Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) is a statewide education program located in the Midwest of the United States. The goal of the program is to leverage teacher education to improve and increase energy literacy in Wisconsin's K-12 schools as a means of contributing to statewide energy savings. Created in 1995, the program continues to effectively reach out to and educate teachers, and receive significant stakeholder support. Over 5,500 teachers in Wisconsin have availed themselves of KEEP support services and materials, including 2,124 teachers of the middle grade years. A key reason for the success of the program is periodic and ongoing assessments that inform and guide program development and ensure customer and stakeholder satisfaction. These assessments also serve to provide insights into program effectiveness, helping to determine if goals and objectives are being met. This overview will highlight a number of the assessments of KEEP that have taken place over the past 18 years and provide insights into how other teacher educators can use these strategies to ensure their program success.