An Analysis of College Students' Interpretations of Some Possible Environmental Catastrophes.

Autor/in	Fazio, Frank
Titel	An Analysis of College Students' Interpretations of Some Possible Environmental Catastrophes.
Quelle	(1974), (19 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	College Students; Curriculum Development; Educational Research; Environmental Education; Physical Sciences; Relevance (Education); Science Education; Social Problems; Student Attitudes + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Collegestudent; Curriculum; Development; Curriculumentwicklung; Lehrplan; Entwicklung; Bildungsforschung; Pädagogische Forschung; Umweltbildung; Umwelterziehung; Umweltpädagogik; Natural sciences; Naturwissenschaften; Naturwissenschaft; Relevance; Relevanz; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Social problem; Soziales Problem; Schülerverhalten
Abstract	The main objective of this exploratory investigation was to gather some evidence to support the notion that students can use science learnings interpretively, with respect to current relevant life problems. The students involved were non-science majors (N=138) enrolled in a physical science course. Data were collected at the beginning of the course with respect to awareness, knowledge, and interest in environmental problems so that this information could be used by the instructor to develop background materials for the course. Students were given an instrument consisting of four briefly-stated possible environmental catastrophes and asked to interpret the meaning of each catastrophe, and specify information needed or questions they would like to ask about each predicted catastrophe. Results of the background survey revealed the students to be very much aware of the current environmental problems. Among the major findings from the catastrophe instrument were: (1) over 65 percent of the students were able to successfully interpret at least one or more of the four catastrophes; (2) eight students' interpretations challenged the validity of the predicted catastrophes and presented reasons for the challenge; and (3) misconceptions generally centered around reactions involved and the properties of such substances as carbon dioxide and mercury. (Author/PEB)
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC