Articles and studies
Abstract: Since 1996, fifth-grade students from the Alona School in the north of Israel have been leading “The Lesser-Kestrel” environmental education program designed to promote environmental literacy as well as the conservation of this endangered raptor. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine the environmental literacy of fifth-grade pupils after one, two and three years. The study was based on quantitative questionnaires from 147 pupils completed during and after the program and also interviews with 6 of those pupils who had completed the program in the past. Pupils filled out the questionnaire at four different points of time throughout their educational program: prior to their studies in the environmental program, at the end of their studies in the program, about four months following their studies in the program and about one year after the completing of their studies. New research tools was used to evaluate the results included the Roth's level of environmental literacy combined with Simmons' components. The findings indicate that even three years after graduating, the pupils achieved a functional level of environmental literacy in all three components of these. In conclusion, it seems appropriate to promote long-term environmental educational programs that help retain environmental literacy for at least three years.
Keywords: environmental literacy; Lesser Kestrel; elementary school
Abstract: Principals have an important role to play when it comes to making decisions on organizational reforms and priorities in preschool; however, there has been little focus on their views on education for sustainable development (ESD) at the preschool level, which is a reform that needs to be prioritized. Furthermore, there is little insight into similarities and differences when it comes to how different types of preschools incorporate ESD, especially from the point of view of management. For this reason, this study aims to find out about the views on ESD that principals of eco-certified and non-eco-certified preschools have. A further aim is to examine whether there are any differences between the two types of preschools - eco-certified and non-eco-certified - as made evident in the principals’ descriptions of ESD. This qualitative study applies a cross-sectional design. Seven principals, who headed a total of 22 preschools located in six municipalities in Sweden were interviewed: these interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, and a thematic analysis was conducted. The findings demonstrate that the principals consider ESD to be crucial in early childhood education and feel ESD needs to be integrated into preschool education. Going by the principals’ descriptions, it seems that the eco-certified preschools prioritize ESD in their daily educational practices more than non-eco-certified preschools do. Further studies are needed to explore the attitudes and actions of principals when it comes to heading ESD in preschool, since attitudes guide both actions and behavior.
Keywords: early childhood education; eco-certification; organizational leadership; preschool principal; sustainable development
Abstract: Nowadays young students are among the most significant target groups who need to gain experience from the world that currently exist around them in order to acquire knowledge about the up-to-date environmental and nature conservation matters, especially about the issue of biodiversity as the basis of our existence. But do we teach them what is around them in the science lessons? In many cases, the drastic decline in biodiversity might even result from that young generation does not always have access to sufficient and up-to-date information merely from textbooks. However, experience with the immediate environment and the active involvement of the wildlife provided by the schools would be irreplaceable. This article summarizes the results of a survey, which was filled up by 800 Hungarian science teachers. The results provide insight into their opinion and habits regarding going out to nature while teaching. The analysis extends to several diversity matters such as examining the school garden or trees nearby. The current article was written as part of a research on the effect of light pollution on wildlife, biodiversity in particular and supported by the project EFOP 3.6.2-16-2017-00014.
Keywords: teaching biodiversity; school yards; school gardens; natural science; Biology teachers; species diversity
Abstract: One of the main goals of conservation biology is protection of biodiversity. Some important new tools to achieve this goal are science education and communication to the public, as well as communication of scientific research results for decision makers. Objectives of this study were (1) to investigate what are the main topics in science on communicating the concept of biodiversity, what are the best methods for communicating this concept and (2) to communicate the concept of biodiversity to local community. To obtain more accurate and systematic results, we were working with special settings and metadata of Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus. We have analysed the metadata of all the results and 30 highly cited articles, making citation networks using CitationGecko. The results of our analysis showed that we need metaphors, storytelling, strong emotions and framing techniques to reach the policy-makers and non-scientists. To strengthen the nature - people relationship we need local projects. We have started our local work in promoting the notion of biodiversity 2 years ago. Our innovative idea is to present and provide knowledge to local communities not only on diversity of species, but also an ecological diversity using interactive workshops. In this context we have developed a series of games in order to better know and understand our local and regional values.
Keywords: communicating biodiversity; science-communication; nature education; Cluj
Abstract: It is well-documented that highly and horizontally polarized light reflected from shiny dark artificial surfaces has adverse effects on positively polarotactic aquatic insects, including all insects, the larvae of which live in water. Such man-made surfaces may act as 'polarized ecological traps' for polarotactic insects, because they are inappropriate for the development of eggs laid by the deceived and attracted aquatic insects. We performed a field experiment on 27 May 2019 at a mountain creek and its anthropogenic environment to study this phenomenon. Our studies were carried out by Hungarian university students in a senior level biology teacher class. The methods and results can also be used in high and secondary schools. Our aim was to introduce students to the visual ecology of water insects, and help them to apply their knowledge the practice of environmental education.
Keywords: Asphalt road; Car paint work; Environmental education; Field experiment; Mayfly; Polarotaxis
Abstract: Sustainability is a highly complex, interdisciplinary field of education. Therefore, in the case of sustainability education in teacher training, it is especially important that students shall be able to see the natural, social and economic problems and challenges of sustainability, the possible solution of the problems and the causal relationships in a system. This is the only way to prepare them for providing children with quality education regarding sustainability education. In this study, our purpose is to demonstrate how the life cycle of smartphones as an e-product can contribute to an effective education of sustainability and the development of a complex approach of students. Besides, our purpose is to present the obtained results of a student survey related to smartphones. The questionnaire is supposed to answer the following questions: How do students appear in the consumer market as smartphone users? Whether the problem of planned and moral obsolescence appeared? What are their consumer attitudes towards smartphones? Is the device used in a conscious, environmentally-friendly way? Are students aware of the environmental, social and economic impacts of e-devices’ life stages? The study presents the conclusions drawn from the results of the survey.
Keywords: sustainable consumption; smartphone; life cycle analysis