A Sociocultural Investigation of How Students and Teachers Connect Daily Life, Ecology, and the Environment

• In Event: Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: Research in Science Learning and Teaching Poster Session 2

Abstract

This study uses sociocultural learning theory to understand how middle and high school science students and pre and in-service science teachers connect the daily life activity of eating to the environment and food web concepts learned in school. Participants (N=421) completed open-ended questionnaires, and follow-up interviews were conducted with 54 participants, which are the focus of the findings presented here. Results indicate that most participants were unable to connect the food they eat with ecosystem food webs, although many of these respondents demonstrated food web understanding proficiency. The results suggest a disconnect between formal ecology instruction and out of school daily life activities, like eating. We provide several recommendations for how this disconnect can be remedied in our classrooms.

Authors

• Yael Wyner, City College of New York - CUNY

• Erica Blatt, Rowan University