Comparing Informal Outreach Methods for Their Effect on Student Learning and Interest in Entomology

• In Event: Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: Exploring Outcomes and Strategies in Environmental Education

Abstract

Many university-based outreach programs have a long history of offering informal education programs to local schools, but often these lessons are not evaluated. This outreach can be influenced by many things, but the instructional delivery method can impact how students are exposed to specific topics and if the content peaks their interest. A study was conducted with a university entomology outreach program to assess three of the most common outreach delivery methods by administering surveys in 20 fifth grade classrooms to determine their effect on student content knowledge of insects and interest in entomology. Overall, Teacher Training Workshops were more effective at increasing student content knowledge of entomology, while Online Curriculum methods were best at increasing student interest in insects.

Author

• Faith J. Weeks, Purdue University