Dr. Gerald R. Culen
Associate Professor
Youth Development
Undergraduate Coordinator
3041 McCarty Hall D
PO Box 110310
Gainesville, FL 32611-0310
(352) 273-3525
E-mail:
grculen@ufl.edu
Specialization
Environmental Education-Program/Curriculum Development, Implementation and
Evaluation.
Issue Education and Investigation
Outdoor Education and Camping Programs
Educational Background
BA. Zoology, Southern Illinois University, 1975.
MS. Curriculum and Instruction, Southern Illinois University, 1983.
Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction, Southern Illinois University, 1994.
Employment
1977-89 1990-94. Program Director/Administrative Professional, Outdoor Environmental Education Programs, Southern Illinois University.
1989-1990 Lecturer, Science and Environmental Education Center, Curriculum and Instruction Department, Southern Illinois University.
1994-Present, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator. FYCS. Extension Specialist, Youth Development and 4-H
Current FTE
50% Teaching and 50% Extension
Extension
Co-leader for the Extension Focus Team, Environmental Education. This program assists with environmental education programs for adults, 4-H, schools, home schools and other youth programs. Major activities of this team include in-service workshops for 4-H county faculty, program assistants, volunteers and teachers, curriculum development specific to current environmental issues, coordination of major programs including 4-H county camping activities, environmental education/natural resource camps, 4-H Sport Fishing and Shooting Sports, and implementation of statewide events related to environmental education and natural resources.
Teaching
Coordinator for the FYCS Practicum experiences. This course is required by all FYCS majors as well as Nonprofit minors. Students select an ongoing "work" experience and then complete online assignments for the two (2) or three (3) hour course.
Other courses taught include "Involving Youth in Community Issues" FYC 6331.
Research
Selected research projects ongoing or completed during the last three years:
(1998) Environmental Literacy in Florida 4-H, a pilot research project examining levels of environmental literacy (i.e., ecological knowledge, issue awareness, and citizenship action skills) among 4-H clubs and schools groups using environmental education curricula.
(1998) Coastal Marine Environmental Issues: An Extended Case Study for the Investigation and Evaluation of Marine Issues. A testing project to determine the suitability of selected activities in a curriculum development project for use in Florida and other Gulf coastal states. This was a cooperative effort with the Center for Instruction, Staff Development and Evaluation, Carbondale, Illinois.
(2001) This is a continuation of the above Environmental Literacy in Florida 4-H research project that will examine levels of environmental literacy. This study will be expanded to include additional 4-H contacts as well as classroom groups from several states using environmental education curricula.
(2007) Evaluation of afterschool programs and activities for CYFAR (Children, Youth and Families at Risk)
Selected Publications
Culen, G. R., (2001) Organics: A Wasted Resource? An Extended Case Study for the Investigation and Evaluation of Composting and Organic Waste Management Issue, and companion video, Champaign, Illinois: Stipes Publishing Company, 164 pp.
Culen, G. R. (2001,1997). "The Status of Environmental Education With Respect to the Goal of Responsible Citizenship Behavior." Essential Readings in Environmental Education Champaign, Illinois: Stipes Publishing Company, pp. 37-46.
Culen, G.R., and T. L.Volk. (2000). "The Effects of an Extended Case Study on Environmental Behavior and Associated Variables in Seventh and Eighth Grade Students." The Journal of Environmental Education, 31(2).
Culen, G.R., H.R. Hungerford and T.L. Volk, (2000). Coastal Marine Environmental Issues: An Extended Case Study for the Investigation and Evaluation of Marine Issues of the Gulf coast and Florida Peninsula, Champaign, Illinois: Stipes Publishing Company, 204 pp.
Culen, G. R. et al. (1997). "Aquatic/Marine Ecosystems: Leader's Activity Guide." University of Florida Cooperative Extension, IFAS for-sale system Publication # SP MRL 20, 253 pp.
