Activity-Based Water Resources and Climate Change Education Among School Students in Puducherry

Abstract

Water resources and climate change education is an urgent need for encouraging students to understand the water issues related to climate change at their local level and make the changes in their attitude, behaviour for protection and conservation, and protection of local precious natural resources and capability to sustain their life under changing climatic conditions in future. The main objectives of this study were to bring changes to students’ behaviour and attitudes to protect and conserve local drinking water resources. In order to address local water quality issues, students were provided with the scientific skills to monitor water quality, essential water quality parameters to protect against/prevent water pollution and were motivated and trained to practise various climatic change adaptations in order to conserve their local water resources and to create awareness among the local community about climatic change adaptations and the protection/conservation of local water resources through service-learning education. In this study, a pre- and post-test with control group design was used to measure students’ efficiency of knowledge, attitude, and behaviour pre- and post-test. Activity-based environmental education methods were used to address water quality issues and climate change at local level, including classroom sessions such as lectures, PowerPoint presentations, films on various water issues and climate change, debates, essay/painting competitions, and quizzes and tests. During the outdoor activities, students were facilitated with hands-on activities, field trips, community visits, games and group projects. The post-test results revealed that there was an increase in students’ knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills to solve local water resources and climate change problems. This study therefore stresses the need to extend teaching and learning activities into the immediate environment of the pupils beyond the classroom so that they are made aware of and understand water resources and climate change studies.