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Evaluating efficacy of environmental education programming
Author(s) -
Brandl Rayelynn,
Alvarado Arlene,
Peltomaa Abigail
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
school science and mathematics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.135
H-Index - 2
eISSN - 1949-8594
pISSN - 0036-6803
DOI - 10.1111/ssm.12319
Subject(s) - disposition , watershed , psychology , stewardship (theology) , environmental stewardship , environmental education , mathematics education , pedagogy , social psychology , environmental resource management , environmental science , computer science , political science , machine learning , politics , law
Abstract The Clark Fork Watershed Education Program (CFWEP) goals are: (a) increasing students’ understanding of the nature of ecological impacts within their watershed as related to historic mining damage; and (b) increasing students’ sense of stewardship of newly restored landscapes. Data from 2012 to 2016 were evaluated for student knowledge gains (46 trials representing 2,395 student pre‐surveys; 2,409 student post‐surveys). Data from 2013 to 2016 were evaluated for students’ attitudes toward science and disposition toward caring for the environment (38 trials representing 1,479 pre‐surveys; 1,460 post‐surveys). The results of this study support that the program’s goals are being achieved. Students achieved statistically significant gains on knowledge surveys with a 33.4% overall gain pre‐ to posttest ( p < 0.0001). Students also moved toward greater positive responses in both attitudes toward science and disposition toward caring for the environment with Cohen’s d effect sizes of “medium effect” for caring toward the environment ( d = 0.52) and “small effect” of positive disposition toward science ( d = 0.24).