The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of a climate change education program on the environmental attitude elementary school students.
Two 5th grade classes from J elementary school, in Namdong-gu, Incheon, were used for the study. One...
The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of a climate change education program on the environmental attitude elementary school students.
Two 5th grade classes from J elementary school, in Namdong-gu, Incheon, were used for the study. One class was the control group and the other the experimental group.
The climate change education program for the experimental group was carried out for four weeks from the 2th week of May to the 5th week of May in 2013.
The control group did not participate in climate change education program.
The experimental design for analyzing the effect of the program was pre-test/post-test controlled group design, SPSS 19.0 statistical program were used to analyse the test results.
In the result of pre-test, there was not significant difference between two groups.
The post-test for verifying the effect after applying the climate change education program in the experimental group was carried out.
The main statistical tools was factor analysis, reliability test(Cronbach’s a coefficient) on the measurement tools, and t-test for post-test scores in the experimental group and the control group. Also, behavioral changes of experimental group were analysed qualitatively through behavior observation, impression report, etc.
The main findings of this study were as follows;
First, the overall environmental attitude, cognitive factor in the second subsection, and behavior factor in the second subsection were highly significant(p<0.01), and affective factor was significant(p<0.05) between the educated group and non-educated group.
Therefore, it was concluded that the climate change education program had a positive effect on the environmental attitude.
All section of the environmental attitude was significant(p<0.05) between pre-environmental attitude scores and post-environmental attitude scores among the experimental group by application of climate change education program.
Secondly, the climate change education program has shown a positive effect on the improvement in the environmental attitude in the experimental group.
Lastly, by analyzing the students’ behavioral observation and activity impression reports, we found that the climate change education program had a positive effect on the enhancement of the environmental attitudes this included on enhanced recognition of environmental importance, and friendly attitude for reducing climate change. The climate change education program recognizes students’ internalized and cognitive interest in climate change. Increasing the autonomous motivation for learning was practical to reduce climate change. It will foster a commitment to improving the environmental attitudes.
Recommendations for further research;
First, the effect of climate change education program for enhancing the environmental attitude on other grades study such as low, middle grades should be extensively performed.
Second, various teaching materials on climate change education program for improving the environmental attitude should be developed.
Finally, long-term and follow-up education for the environmental attitude of trying to practice the plans for reduction of climate change and keeping such better attitude should be required.