Assessment Level of Environmental Literacy among Applied Science Private University (ASU) students

Abstract

Environmental literacy EL is a significant aspect that must be implanted in education; to continuously protect environment systems, communities, and future generations. Students should understand skills and motivation to make responsible decisions for a sustainable environment. This research aimed to assess student EL and evaluate the influence of demographic factors on the EL level among students at Applied Science Private University in Jordan. A total of 323 students; 53.6% male, and 46.4% females- took the EL test. The test had three parts: student’s demographic profile, environmental knowledge, and attitude. The findings indicated that students had high environmental knowledge of energy, pollution, and recycling. The results also showed that students had a moderate level of environmental knowledge on issues such as environmental concerns, ecology, water scarcity, global warming, and ozone layer depletion. The lower mean scores were determined for items on time of gardens irrigation and flue gas. It also revealed no differences between Gender, faculty, cumulative average, and income levels affect EL. Multimedia alongside books and school environmental experience served as the key source of environmental information. It concluded that environmental knowledge does not always influence the behavioral intentions, so a national strategy is needed to improve current curricula in higher education institution.