Mini-Course Overview

Polar Bears International is excited to provide these online learning modules as part of the training for the PBI Climate Alliance. 

This coursework consists of activities designed to provide you with the opportunity to review and also learn new information about polar bears, climate change, and civic engagement.

Our hope is that this course will help you:

• Develop a thorough understanding of climate science, Arctic sea ice habitat, polar bears, and key issues related to northern communities 

• Enhance your skills as climate change communicators and presenters

• Begin to assess your aptitude, knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards being a community change agent and working with your AAC team

• Begin to work with experienced community change agents through PBI’s Arctic Ambassador network and facilitate teamwork within your own institution

• Enhance your skills as storytellers and strengthen your relationship with your institution’s communications team

• Strengthen your personal networks and provide a space to plug into a community of support

What resources do you need to participate?

• Computer with internet access 

• An active login and username on Discord

Course Schedule: 

• The course will start in May 2025.

• The course consists of six modules that will be available in sequential order according to the deadlines below. Please do not work ahead and reach out if you need any help getting caught up

  • Polar Bear Natural History (Module 1) - To be completed by May 16, 2025 - Add to Calendar

  • Climate Change and Sea Ice (Module 2) - To be completed by June 6, 2025 - Add to Calendar

  • Polar Bears in a Warming World (Module 3) - To be completed by June 20, 2025 - Add to Calendar

  • Working with your AAC Team (Module 4) - To be completed by July 3, 2025 - Add to Calendar

  • Effecting Change and Civic Engagement (Module 5) - To be completed by July 18, 2025 - Add to Calendar

  • NNOCCI Module (Module 6) - Weekly webinars and asynchronous online content. TBD

• After completing Modules 1-5, we will break for a week or two and begin our work with the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) in late July.

Course Structure and Course Navigation: 

• You can navigate to each section of the module using the navigation bar at the bottom of the page.  You'll notice each module has a launching page, from which you will complete each component. You will see additional sections of the course in the toolbar at the top of the page as they become available.

• Each Module has four components (Focus, Explore, Reflect, Apply).  Each page has a button at the bottom of the page to help guide you through each of the four components of each Module. You'll need to complete all four components for each Module.  For example, with Module One, you'll start with 1A, then continue on through 1B, 1C, and 1D.  Please complete the components in order as they build on each other. 

• You will not be graded for this online course.  However, completion of this course is critical for your full participation in the 2025 Climate Alliance program. We will track your contributions in the online community as an assessment tool in order to best support your growth as a PBI Climate Alliance participant. 

• Please note where Guiding Questions are included throughout the Modules, to be posted in the Discord server (our online community). These will help guide your online course experience.