How Students Express Environmental Values After Learning About Energy Flow in Natural and Built Environments

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Abstract

This qualitative study explores 7th – 9th grade students’ environmental value orientations after experiencing a place-based curriculum on energy flow. Twenty-four junior high students participated in semi-structured interviews after completing the curriculum. We analyzed student interviews using De Groot and Steg’s (2008) Environmental Value Orientation Framework, with a dominant orientation of Biospheric, Altruistic, or Egoistic. We found each of the three orientations present, with the majority holding an Egoistic value orientation. We also found that female-identifying students were more likely to hold a Biospheric value orientation than male-identifying students. Because these orientations guide how students interact with the environment, the findings of this study suggest the importance of designing environmental curriculum materials with value orientations in mind.

Authors

• Jessica Ann Justice, University of Missouri

• Laura Zangori, University of Missouri

• Laura Cole, Colorado State University