Evaluation of An Educational Program: "The Use of Barn Owls And Kestrels As Biological Pest Control Agents In Agriculture"

This study measured the effects of an educational curriculum “Barn Owls and Falcons as Biological Pest Control in Agriculture” on students’ environmental literacy.  The study hypothesized that use of the educational curriculum would bring about changes in environmental knowledge, environmental awareness, attitudes towards the environment, faith in the ability of science and technology to solve environmental problems, environmental responsibility, and willingness to act on behalf of environment.  

 

Additionally, the study measured the association between the various components of environmental literacy, and influences on environmental literacy related to socioeconomic status and gender.  Finally, the potential of the curriculum was measured by testing the presentation of values, the organization of knowledge, and the didactic value of the material presented. The results indicate that a significant increase in environmental knowledge occurred between the pre- and post-test questionnaires.

 

In conclusion, this study demonstrates that students’ and teachers’ involvement in environmental issues has an effect on various elements of their environmental literacy.   Therefore, it is important to teach environmental studies in school and to train teachers in such.  Additionally, this educational curriculum demonstrates the advantages of connecting students and teachers to their immediate environment and local community and the necessity for an educational curriculum to include diverse tools and activities.  

 

This educational curriculum also illustrates the exclusion of activism and environmental ethics in the environmental education materials found in today’s educational system.