Effects of a One-day Environmental Education Program on Sixth-Graders’ Environmental Literacy at a Nature Center in Eastern Taiwan

Chung-Ting Pan,Shih-Jang Hsu

doi:10.3390/su12125043

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of a one-day environmental education program on sixth-graders’ environmental literacy at a nature center in eastern Taiwan. In this program, the use of role play and games for teaching about Formosan black bear and forest conservation was adopted. A nonequivalent control group design was used to collect data. The experimental group (N = 100) received the one-day environmental education program and the control group (N = 73) did not receive any environmental instruction. The ANCOVA results indicated that students’ environmental knowledge and locus of control were effectively improved by the end of the program. Besides, students in the experimental group showed a lower utilization preference than students in the control group. One month after the end of the program, the present study discovered retained effects on students’ environmental knowledge, environmental responsibility, locus of control, and environmental action. Moreover, students in the experimental group showed a higher preservation and a lower utilization preference than those in the control group in the follow-up test. Based on this study, implications for program development and instructional practice were presented.

Highlights

The loss of biodiversity has become a major concern and promoting people’s commitment to protecting local biodiversity is vital for conservation in Taiwan
The ANCOVA results indicated that students in the experimental group showed a lower utilization preference than students in the control group
The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of games and role play as teaching approaches

Summary

Introduction

The loss of biodiversity has become a major concern and promoting people’s commitment to protecting local biodiversity is vital for conservation in Taiwan. Hwang et al [1] pointed out that the Formosan black bear, an endemic subspecies residing in Taiwan’s remote forests, is listed as an endangered species because of habitat loss and poaching. Eastern Taiwan is a hotspot for Formosan black bears. Our research site is a nature center of the Taiwan Forestry Bureau in eastern Taiwan and this nonformal education center provides a variety of environmental education programs for local students. Over 6000 secondary and elementary school students visit the nature center for a one-day environmental education program [2]. The nature center designed a one-day Formosan black bear and forest conservation program (i.e., Black Bear Detectives) targeting sixth–eighth graders in eastern Taiwan

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion