Impact of an Out-of-School Education Program on Students’ Development of Ecological Mental Models

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

Abstract

The ability to develop and use models has been identified as essential practices for K-12 students (NRC, 2012). This research looks at the development of mental models resulting after a 4 day out-of-school environmental education program centering on an imperiled ecosystem in the southeast. Pre and post drawings were used to elicit student’s mental models of the ecosystem, and changes that occurred were documented. A total of seven mental model categories were identified ranging from inadequate to sophisticated. The data demonstrate a statistically significant shift in student mental models post attendance to more close resemble the conceptual models of scientists. Implications for teacher education program are discussed.

Author

• Michael William Dentzau, Columbus State University