Articles and studies
Abstract: Recent studies confirm that children profit greatly from being in contact with nature. A large body of research focuses on children’s psychological development in this respect. While the social and physical aspects are also well researched, less studies focus on the relationship between early childhood nature experience and sustainability education. In this paper, the central research question is concerned with this nexus, asking how children, who spend a lot of time outdoors, a) perceive nature, b) in what ways they act towards protecting nature and c) which competences they show in relation to sustainable development. In order to answer these research questions, two case studies were conducted in an Austrian Kindergarten and a primary school. The findings show that the children in both institutions have a diverse image of nature, a close relationship with nature, are invested in protecting their environment and show several competences, which are considered vital for sustainability education. Thus, the findings indicate, that increasing the amount of time children spend outdoors could positively contribute towards a more sustainable future.
Keywords: nature experience; early childhood; primary school; sustainability education
Abstract: At the Apáczai Csere János Faculty, we have been teaching environmental and sustainability education in teacher training for over 20 years. Trainee teacher are prepared for their future profession - including environmental education - by considering the concept of sustainability. In our previous studies, we analysed the environmental attitudes of children before and after forest school programs. Our current research focuses on the older generation. We prepared a questionnaire for first-year students arriving at the Széchenyi István University in September. It was filled in electronically by 553 students of the nine faculties of the university. Our aim was to study the environmental awareness of the first-year-university-students. In addition we aimed to survey their environmental attitudes, to map their knowledge, behaviour and emotions related to sustainability and environmental issues. Our further goal is to increase the effectiveness of sustainability education in our higher education practice, considering the results of the study and our resources.
Keywords: environmental attitudes, education for sustainability, sustainable development goals
Abstract: The article is focusing on how the application of an environmental educational package affected 3rd and 5th-grade students' relation to environment, nature and well-being. The possibilities of developing environmental awareness using an environmental education package based on experience- centred learning techniques is being demonstrated by the results of annual assessments. The effectiveness of the environmental educational package was investigated by a longitudinal study what compared the result of a study group against a control group. The performance of 3rd-grade participants of 2016/17 were compared to their own results in 5th grade in 2018/19. The result demonstrates the effectiveness of experience-based, differentiated environmental-awareness education within the scope of everyday learning. That there are significant differences in specific areas of knowledge between the study group and the control group. Among the examined topics the group utilizing the education package outperformed the control groups over a long timeframe. Experience-based methods are shown to be beneficial based on their utilization and tracking of the results.
Keywords: education; environmental awareness education package; experiential education
Abstract: Nowadays, Environmental Education (EE) programs primarily provide opportunities for organized teaching and studying strictly controlled by educators. As far as free explorational experiences in nature are concerned, their positive effects on the development of environmental consciousness are often overlooked. Based on Csonka and Varga (2019), these experiences should be made a very important part of children’s life so that they can later develop a strong ecological identity. Interestingly, the firmly structured EE programs are more likely to trigger negative emotions towards nature. Furthermore, the Physical Education (PE) framework for primary schools of the 2012 Hungarian National Core Curriculum requires indirectly the mandatory implementation of free exploration in nature in PE classes (Csonka, 2019). Based on previous findings, the main focus of the present study is the PE Framework Curricula related to the 2020 Hungarian National Core Curriculum in terms of the prevalence of free exploration in nature. As part of a pilot research, the implementation of free exploration in nature was also analyzed regarding grade 1-4 PE classes, sporting events and camps. It can be considered a novel result that the 2020 PE Framework Curricula do not involve the implementation of free exploration in nature, and there have been differences between the previous teaching practices and the 2012 PE Framework Curriculum.
Keywords: Environmental Education; free exploration, curriculum, Physical Education
Abstract: The importance of environmental education cannot be stressed enough as humanity populated the majority of the Earth and its activity effects the whole planet. Environmental education is lifestyle education that cannot be started early enough. The point is not only to properly provide scientific knowledge besides personality development. It is essential that children discover and understand cause and effect relationships so they will understand the processes on the whole. The processes leading to the solutions of environmental questions and problems can link different subjects, can build a global point of view suitable to be supported by digital culture for more reasons. The present article in addition to the definition of concepts of environmental education and its practical implementation, describes the accentuated role and possibilities of the digital culture subject in the process of education for sustainability and it provides concrete tasks by age groups along with detailed methodological guidance.
Keywords: sustainable society; environmental education; legal regulation; educational roles; digital culture; thematic project tasks; global point of view; STEM; robot programming; scratch
Abstract: As an entrant teacher, it has been a major issue for us to identify the problems and circumstances of teaching geography in various schools. We have been interested in the opinion of teachers about the state of education, their practical experience and solutions. As part of our research, lessons were observed in five different types of schools and semi-structured interviews were conducted with the teachers afterward. We complemented these with an online survey which was filled out by 122 geography teachers throughout the country. A diagnostic measurement and an attitude research took place in the monitored classes, where the sample included 131 people. Mostly close-ended questions were applied where Likert Scale types were significant in order to analyse the results of the survey more efficiently. The results of the diagnostic tests did not indicate significant difference. However; the survey denoted that applying diverse methods results in acquiring a deeper knowledge. Furthermore, not the type of the school, but the personality of the teacher was the most determining in knowledge transfer and student activity during class.
Keywords: geography teachers; practical experience and solutions; type of school; attitude;
Abstract: Light pollution is a new environmental challenge. We emit more light than necessary, and this is often done at wavelengths that are disturbing and even harmful to human health. In this situation, Dark Sky Parks, where there are no artificial light sources that burden the environment, have been established. Two of these parks are located in BAZ County, near Répáshuta, and in Hajdú-Bihar County, near Hortobágy. The present study reports on a questionnaire survey conducted in Répáshuta and in Hortobágy, inhabitants of which are informed about light pollution, and in Cserépváralja and Újszentmargita villages, located near the previous pair of settlements, not directly warned about the problem. With a direct on-site survey, we asked 21 questions to over 30-41 persons in the four settlements, and received answers taking full account of anonymity of the respondents. Recruitment took place in April-May, 2019 and November-January, 2020. The questions of the questionnaire are focused on the effects of lighting, the lighting habits, the relation of responding persons to the stellated sky, and additional knowledge on energy saving. The survey took place between November 2019 and January 2020. In the present study we have space for detailed presentation of eight questions.
Keywords: light pollution; lighting modes; human health; animals; astronomy
Abstract: This study aims to present possible options for introducing light pollution through nature trails to the citizens. The first part of the study grants a general introduction about light pollution by explaining the concept, forms and sources of the phenomenon; as well as by describing possible ways of its reduction and prevention. The second part gives a summary about nature trails, based on general and certain special characteristics of the facilities. The goal of the third part is twofold: presenting possible ways of introducing light pollution through nature trails, as well as examining the different types of trails that might be appropriate for introducing the topic to the visitors.
Keywords: environmental education; light pollution; nature trail.
Abstract: The paper presents the elaboration of light pollution environmental problems, the partial results of which can be seen in the National Core Curriculum (2020) (NCC in the following) i.e. the most relevant content of pedagogy in Hungary. Concepts related to the topic rarely appear in the analysed documents. The unified structure of the topic, the exploration of the causes and consequences of light pollution, and the students' understanding of their role are equally missing. In the course of this approach, efficient lighting can be introduced and cost-effective methods can be developed. We have sought out professional workshops on research topics that, due to their current activities, contribute to the integration of light pollution into education.The study presents some of the key elements of the National Core Curriculum. The first part describes the content regulation and regulation levels of school education, the learning and educational goals, the principles of learning and teaching, and the educational stages. The second half of the description deals with competence development, learning areas and knowledge contents. During the characterization, issues related to light pollution also appear.
Keywords: light pollution; National Core Curriculum; education; sustainability; competences