Showing papers in "Applied Environmental Education & Communication in 2006"
TL;DR: A sustainable evaluation framework that could be self-administered by the staff of an environmental education organization in perpetuity, outcomes of the framework's implementation included clarification of organizational goals, enhanced organizational commitment from staff, professional development, and new prospects for adaptive management.
Abstract: This article presents a framework for developing internally sustainable evaluation systems for environmental education organizations, although the framework can be applied to other types of organizations. The authors developed a sustainable evaluation framework (SEF) with the intent of creating an evaluation system that could be self-administered by the staff of an environmental education organization in perpetuity. Key components of the framework include that it is utilization-focused (designed specifically for the needs of its users), participatory (empowering the users at each step of the design and implementation process), theory-driven (employing logic modeling and consulting relevant literature for concept clarification), and consumer-based (directly addressing the needs of probable audiences of evaluation results). The article illustrates the evaluation framework and its key outcomes using a case study from the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (GSMIT), where the authors facilitated the de...
43 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the impact of environmental education programs on student achievement in math, reading, and writing by comparing student performances on two standardized tests for environmental education schools and schools with traditional curriculum.
Abstract: The present research investigated the impact of environmental education (EE) programs on student achievement in math, reading, and writing by comparing student performances on two standardized tests for environmental education schools and schools with traditional curriculum. Quantitative analysis was used to evaluate the impact of the EE programs. The study indicates that schools with integrated environmental education programs outperform comparable “non-EE” schools on the tests. The authors believe that this exploratory research shows a pattern or trend between the level of implementation of environmental education and student achievement, which calls for more in-depth studies to investigate a correlate or cause-effect relationship.
43 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, it has been shown that every 8 seconds, a child dies from drinking contaminated water (deVilliers, 2000, p. 19) and that these serious ecological problems are happening elsewhere.
Abstract: Global ecological degradation is currently causing widespread suffering and this is expected to worsen unless we change our global behaviors. Wilson (2002) has suggested that the consequences of ecological degradation are a threat to all life on earth. Woodbridge (2004) asserts that human pressures on natural systems will reach pivotal status by 2025. There have been many international research studies that have comprehensively examined a wide variety of natural systems, and the results continually point to a serious threat to our long term survival. However, we don't have to look to the future to know we have serious problems now. Globally, every 8 seconds, a child dies from drinking contaminated water (deVilliers, 2000, p. 19). Principally, we in North America feel somewhat distanced from a statistic such as this and take comfort that these serious ecological problems are happening somewhere else. Yet, even in Southern Ontario, people have died from drinking contaminated water, from air pollution and fr...
32 citations
TL;DR: This paper assessed the variables that would positively affect the knowledge and attitude of a group of Lebanese college students regarding the environment, namely factors such as gender, age, previous hiking experience and living abroad.
Abstract: This exploratory study aimed at assessing the variables that would positively affect the knowledge and attitude of a group of Lebanese college students regarding the environment, namely such factors as gender, age, previous hiking experience and living abroad. A purposeful sample of students attending the Lebanese American University, was asked to fill out a questionnaire that assesses four major domains related to attitudes towards the environment: concern, knowledge, willingness to act, present and past behavior, and a minor domain, experience with nature. Results showed overall significance with specific patterns emerging: living abroad correlated with knowledge and experience, frequency of hiking with all dependent variables and marginally with concern, and gender marginally with willingness to act, actual behavior and experience in favor of males. The independent variables of gender, living abroad and major yielded the most significant correlations with the dependent variable of experience with the e...
30 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the potential benefits of involving older adults and young people in joint environmental education experiences, and found that senior adult volunteers were found to influence children to adopt an enriched sense of awareness and appreciation of the natural environment.
Abstract: Intergenerational programming, which brings children, youth, and older adults together for mutually beneficial interaction, represents a relatively new strategy for broadening the public's awareness and participation in environmental activities. To explore the potential benefits of involving older adults and young people in joint environmental education experiences, a study was conducted of an intergenerational outdoor education program in an environmental center in Central Pennsylvania. Senior adult volunteers were found to influence children to adopt an enriched sense of awareness and appreciation of the natural environment. Senior-student relations were influenced by staff facilitation styles, the roles taken by the seniors, and the intergenerational engagement format.
25 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a training program on climate change education, teachers were invited to experiment with environmental behaviors in their personal lives, and they then created their own climate-change education model, with which they experimented in their classroom.
Abstract: During a training program on climate change education, teachers were invited to experiment with environmental behaviors in their personal lives. They then created their own climate change education model, with which they experimented in their classroom. Through teachers' and students' work, individual interviews, and questionnaires, researchers monitored the behavioral change process of 25 teachers and of 75 students who participated in the pedagogical activities planned by the teachers. Motivational factors included a profound attachment to the natural environment and a desire to help the Earth. Facilitating factors included participation in a support group, the simplicity of chosen actions, and encouragement from family members. Limiting factors included time, the lack of awareness in one's surroundings, forgetfulness, and fatigue. The theory put forward by Prochaska, Norcross, and DiClemente (2002) was used to interpret the results and propose pedagogical interventions in climate change education.
22 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe a university-kindergarten partnership project with teachers in four kindergartens to participate in four three-hour workshops and then to develop their own school-based environmental programs.
Abstract: This article describes a university-kindergarten partnership project with teachers in four kindergartens to participate in four three-hour workshops and then to develop their own school-based environmental programs. The four teaching themes of the programs were Animals, Plants, Food and Green Angels. In each kindergarten, a core group of staff was established to oversee the design, implementation and evaluation of the school-based curriculum. After the programs were completed, questionnaire surveys and interviews were undertaken to collect feedback and opinions from teachers and parents on the school-based programs and the perceived changes in environmental attitudes and behaviors of their children. The article concludes with possible suggestions to different stakeholders—government and community, the school and the parent—to enhance the development of early-childhood environmental education in kindergarten.
19 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the awareness of potential volunteers living near nine community-based shorebird conservation projects and found that about half of the people sampled (54%) were unaware of the nearest project.
Abstract: We examine the awareness of potential volunteers (n = 360) living near nine community-based shorebird conservation projects. About half of the people sampled (54%) were unaware of the nearest project. Awareness of interviewees varied substantially among projects (28–78%). Apart from gaining awareness of projects through membership of natural history groups (43%), many respondents heard of projects through friends and relatives (20%), rather than through media such as newspapers (14%) and television (2.3%). We demonstrate that community-based projects can be quantitatively and critically assessed for awareness. The use of rapid, cost-effective assessments of awareness levels has application in many conservation projects.
17 citations
TL;DR: The projects described in this article were designed to provide a real world situation akin to the work of environmental professionals and demonstrated that multi-disciplinary teamwork fits well into environmental projects, and importantly that the experiences are recognised by students as being valuable preparation for their environmental professions.
Abstract: The projects described in this article were designed to provide a real world situation akin to the work of environmental professionals. The projects were conducted with Australian students working on environmental issues in Vietnam. The projects demonstrated that multi-disciplinary teamwork fits well into environmental projects, and importantly that the experiences are recognised by students as being valuable preparation for their environmental professions. The students demonstrated that they had learnt many skills that would be of direct importance to them in the professional conduct of a multi-disciplinary environmental project and also enhanced their cultural awareness and practice.
14 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors assess what factors national EE center directors perceive as important to the success of their particular environmental education center and conclude that the need for future research in this area so that center directors can collaborate to establish a baseline for determinants of success and ultimately, to ensure the operation of viable and successful EE centers.
Abstract: With the growth over the past 25 years in the establishment of residential environmental education (EE) centers, what factors EE center directors identify as important to the success of these centers merits discussion. Previously, there has been little research directed towards determining the success or effectiveness of particular EE centers and what contributes to that success in the minds of EE center directors. This research attempts to assess what factors national EE center directors perceive as important to the success of their particular environmental education center. While this sample is small, it illustrates the need for future research in this area so that center directors can collaborate to establish a baseline for determinants of success and ultimately, to ensure the operation of viable and successful EE centers.
14 citations
TL;DR: Experiential education has been promoted by John Dewey and Paulo Freire since the first half of the twentieth century as discussed by the authors, and it has been called the type of teaching where students are passive "banking education".
Abstract: Experiential education has been promoted by John Dewey and Paulo Freire since the first half of the twentieth century. Freire called the type of teaching where students are passive “banking education.” In this first person account I describe my shift from teaching environmental issues in the traditional style to teaching in an experiential style. As a result of this shift, which involves no lecturing or “banking” on my part, students have rated me as a more outstanding instructor.
TL;DR: The Peruvian Centre for Cetacean Research in the period 1993-2000 implemented an environmental education program at the kindergartens, primary and high schools of several fishing towns and in Lima, Peru as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: To complement legislative measures protecting cetaceans and other marine animals, the Peruvian Centre for Cetacean Research in the period 1993–2000 implemented an environmental education program at the kindergartens, primary and high schools of several fishing towns and in Lima, Peru. This program included environmental classes based on selected thematic videos and educational booklets, creative “marine” workshops, art competitions, guided visits to the Museo de Delfines' in Pucusana and other public events. Approximately 1,920 and 2,135 pupils attended at least one environmental class in 1998 and 1999, respectively. Between September 1997 and February 2000, nearly 1,700 children visited the museum. Five hundred and twenty-three children from Pucusana and Cerro Azul participated in workshops in 1998. In 1999, this number increased to 579 for Pucusana alone. In May 2001, personal interviews were conducted with 55 children in the sixth grade of a primary school in Pucusana to evaluate their knowledge on the...
TL;DR: This article explored the role of student self-determination in service learning and found that self-determined students' attitudes toward service learning affect environmental education outcomes, including environmental sensitivity, personal responsibility and intentions to help the environment.
Abstract: An evaluation of Chesapeake Bay Foundation's environmental education programs provides context for this study exploring the role of student self-determination in service-learning. Research questions include (1) How do self-determination–related characteristics of service-learning programs affect students' attitudes toward service-learning (ASL), and (2) How do attitudes toward service-learning affect environmental education outcomes? Results demonstrate that one self-determination–related characteristic, service-learning graduation requirements, did not affect students' ASL. Other factors such as perceived student choice and participation in different service-learning programs, however, did impact ASL. Furthermore, ASL was strongly related to outcomes including environmental sensitivity, personal responsibility and intentions to help the environment.
TL;DR: The World Water Monitoring Day (WMD) is celebrated in 50 countries by more than 75,000 particpants per year as mentioned in this paper, which is an important prerequisite to create a responsible citizenship capable of participating to improve water management.
Abstract: Public awareness of the impending world water crisis is an important prerequisite to create a responsible citizenship capable of participating to improve world water management. In this context, the case of a unique global water education outreach exercise, World Water Monitoring Day of October 18, is presented. Started in 2002 in the United States, currently World Water Monitoring Day is celebrated in 50 countries by more than 75,000 particpants per year. Review of this exercise in terms of public environmental education and possible transferrability to to other global issues of importance is discussed.
TL;DR: The authors discusses a series of e-dialogues conducted for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Canada in which the public engaged in discussions concerning the risk and uncertainty around the management of nuclear waste, disposal options, and decision-making under uncertain conditions.
Abstract: Online dialogues can meaningfully engage a diverse audience and provide a method to both educate and interest the public in complex environmental and social issues. This article discusses a series of e-dialogues conducted for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Canada in which the public engaged in discussions concerning the risk and uncertainty around the management of nuclear waste, disposal options, and decision-making under uncertain conditions. Although these dialogues were very successful and raised new issues of public concern, we encountered some difficulties as well. We discuss these difficulties and potential remedies for others contemplating the use of online dialogues.
TL;DR: The authors used an attitude survey and questionnaires to investigate Kenyan pupils' attitudes towards parks and wildlife and found that the positive attitudes found result from their understanding of the link between these resources and their own wellbeing.
Abstract: This study used an unobtrusive attitude survey and questionnaires to investigate Kenyan pupils' attitudes towards parks and wildlife. The positive attitudes found result from their understanding of the link between these resources and their own wellbeing. The sentiments about parks and wildlife expressed by the pupils are an extraction of the prevailing world-view which they bring to the classroom from their homes. This perception is not antienvironment or antiecological. It is a perception constructed from the social realities of parks and wildlife within their society. Thus, pupils' attitudinal profiles about parks and wildlife can be described as being mainly constituted by the Dominant Social Paradigm (DSP). This DSP becomes the culture around which biodiversity is valued and conserved. It is therefore a form of anthropocentricism that might help to safeguard the ecological balance and landscape in rural Africa.
TL;DR: This article examined newspaper coverage of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) by reviewing a random sample of 153 articles about these vehicles published in the USA between November 2002 and 2003 and found that news articles were more likely to mention environmental attributes of HEVs (47%) than other attributes important to potential consumers such as reliability (0%), performance (8%), and safety (3%).
Abstract: This study examines newspaper coverage of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) by reviewing a random sample of 153 articles about these vehicles published in the USA between November 2002 and 2003 Articles were more likely to mention environmental attributes of HEVs (47%) than other attributes important to potential consumers such as reliability (0%), performance (8%), and safety (3%) Promoting the latter attributes is important to expand the market for HEVs beyond those who are excited about HEVs' environmental benefits or new technology
TL;DR: Based upon its title, this book is attempting an enormous task, to summarize in a mere 326 pages the basics of environmental science as mentioned in this paper.Prior to my reading the book, I was skeptical that any author w...
Abstract: Based upon its title, this book is attempting an enormous task, to summarize in a mere 326 pages the basics of environmental science. Prior to my reading the book, I was skeptical that any author w...
TL;DR: In this article, an experimental course in International Groundwater Studies was developed to bridge the gap between extracurricular service type programs and academically-based study abroad programs, and an eight-day field trip to Guatemala was included in the curriculum.
Abstract: International experiential learning projects have increased in popularity over recent years, and many of these projects focus on environmental topics in the developing world. An experimental course in International Groundwater Studies was developed to bridge the gap between extracurricular service type programs and academically-based study abroad programs. The course included online instruction in order to accommodate varying student schedules, and an eight-day field trip to Guatemala was included in the curriculum. These challenging situational factors led to the decision to apply formal design theory to the course, and qualitative self-reported data were collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the formally-designed course to address both the course learning objectives as well as concerns regarding collaborative functionality between students who had had little in-person interaction prior to traveling.
TL;DR: In this article, a process for interpreting statewide survey data with the four questions that give insights into local context and make it possible to gain insight into potential target audiences and community priorities is proposed.
Abstract: Few examples exist on how to use survey data to inform public environmental education programs. I suggest a process for interpreting statewide survey data with the four questions that give insights into local context and make it possible to gain insight into potential target audiences and community priorities. The four questions are: What percentage of the problem is the target audience causing? What is the probability of change? What are the community's priorities? Is it more advantageous to use educational funds to educate about other important solid-waste issues or community priorities? Survey data combined with the answers to these four questions form the basis for creating local environmental education programs. Examples from solid-waste management are used to illustrate the process.
TL;DR: In this article, what childhood experiences with nature formed your beliefs about and passions for environment? I grew up next door to several miles of evergreen trees, and I remember the feeling of being in love with nature.
Abstract: Algonquin Books, Chapel Hill, NC, Copyright (2005) What childhood experiences with nature formed your beliefs about and passions for environment? I grew up next door to several miles of evergreen f...
Abstract: This study aimed at investigating the relationship between the participation of rural children in farming activities and selected social, school, and physical environment related variables. Data were collected from four hundred and fifty eight children selected through stage-wise random sampling procedure from the four agricultural zones in Oyo state of Southwestern Nigeria. Results of the analyses showed that rural children's participation in farming could be rated as moderate whereas the existing social and school environmental variables were ranked as highly supportive to the participation of rural children in farming. Result of Chi square (χ2) analysis used to investigate the existence of association between the variables shows that a significant association existed between the participation of rural children in farming activities and school system support values (χ2 = 60.796); community social values (χ2 = 22.25); vegetation (χ2 = 76.133); closeness to river (χ2 = 39.64); topography of farmland (χ2 =...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used student-generated comparative risk surveys in environmental communication pedagogy to describe the influence of socioeconomic, political, and scientific factors in the social construction of environmental problems.
Abstract: Using student-generated comparative risk surveys in environmental communication pedagogy has been helpful in achieving specified learning objectives: to describe (1) the influence of socioeconomic, political, and scientific factors in the social construction of environmental problems; (2) the role risk perception plays in defining environmental problems; (3) the multifacetedness of public and stakeholder perspectives regarding environmental problems; (4) the limited knowledge base of the general public regarding environmental problems; and (5) the challenge of conducting research to ascertain the validity of these assumptions. Although traditional comparative risk surveys (CRS) are used to compare the perspectives of the public and environmental experts, this modified version compares ranking of local environmental problems by residents, businesses, and public officials. Based on four years of use and data from the Student Assessment of Learning Gains, indications suggest that the modified CRS has become ...
TL;DR: This article conducted a case study examining the media's commitment to sustainability in one southern state and found that sustainability appears to be basically disregarded in South Carolina newsrooms both professionally and student driven.
Abstract: This article is a case study examining the media's commitment to sustainability in one southern state. The researchers surveyed both broadcast and print newsroom managers in South Carolina and observed student run newsrooms within the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina. Interestingly, both print and broadcast news managers indicated that their organizations were committed to sustainability in the workplace. However, data suggest that sustainability appears to be basically disregarded in South Carolina newsrooms both professionally and student driven. However, the data did reveal results that could aid in the implementation of environmental friendly practices in a newsroom environment. Based upon their findings, researchers suggest a basic ten point plan for newsroom sustainability.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the social, political, and ecological context of the East Wanneroo agricultural area, identified gaps in current knowledge and understanding of the irrigation community and linkages between this community and their context, and outlined a theoretical framework which can be applied to develop a customized educational strategy aimed at improving irrigation practices and promoting sustainable communities.
Abstract: In Western Australia the East Wanneroo horticultural area is reliant on a superficial aquifer, the Gnangara Groundwater Mound, for irrigation. The area is affected by social and political change as the sprawling city of Perth expands, as well as by ecological changes resulting from a decline in groundwater levels. Horticulturalists face increasing competition for water allocation particularly with the drier conditions which are the consequence of two decades of reduced rainfall. This study provides a rationale for an educational intervention; explores the social, political, and ecological context of the East Wanneroo agricultural area; identifies gaps in current knowledge and understanding of the irrigation community and linkages between this community and their context which require further investigation and clarification; and outlines a theoretical framework which can be applied to develop a customized educational strategy aimed at improving irrigation practices and promoting sustainable communities and...