Dr. Tara Jo Holmberg, an environmental advocate and scholar, was named the 2018 New England Formal Educator of the Year by the New England Environmental Education Association (NEEA).
The award honors educators who inspire students to make informed decisions about environmental issues, promote environmental responsibility and inspire student involvement and action.
Holmberg, a professor of environmental science and biology at Northwestern Connecticut Community College (NCCC), was recognized for her ongoing effort of integrating citizen science and service-learning labs and student data collection projects of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems throughout the curriculum.
Holmberg’s ecology students conduct labs in the nearby rivers and forests and uses the same professional tools, techniques and analyses as ecologists.
And drawing on her background and partnerships with local organizations like the Northwest Conservation District, Farmington River Watershed Association and the Highland and Lake Watershed Association, she’s able to create opportunities for her students to submit their data to local, state, national and global organizations.
“When I look back at my own opportunities, I want to give my students the same thing so I really sought out partnerships and opportunities where their data means something,” said Holmberg. “I think it helps them become more vested in what they’re learning and the quality of the data. But then also, they have the opportunity to see what other students have done before them.”
In the classroom, Holmberg rarely lectures. She said that her students are involved in activities and projects and she facilitates class discussion and initiates problem-based learning.
