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  • Virtual field trip as tool for environmental education [Elektronski vir]
    Puhek, Miro ; Perše, Matej ; Šorgo, Andrej, 1957-
    In recent years the environmental issues and the ecology have gained in importance. Students are being taught about the nature preservation, biodiversity, natural balance and natural values. Not only ... the contents, but also the methodologies of teaching are changing, to train students in critically thinking, creating points of view, dealing with problems and understanding the conflicts of changed lifestyle and social, economic and technological development. Instead of dull theory, problem based and inquiry orientated teaching with the support of the usage of ICT (information and communication technology) are put in the foreground. With the help of ICT students would be able to learn about the environment and the impacts of people on the nature in the virtual environment without any limitations. The former studies show that students do not see ICT as the substitution for the nature, but see it as a useful supporting tool to the field work, which could also help protect the nature. Because the work is done in virtuality, they do not additionally threaten the endangered organisms; they can visit unreachable places, train hypothesis on simulations for various real occasions etc. In this proposal study the virtual field trip is presented, which was developed for environmental education in lower secondary schools. The exercises on the virtual field trip were developed to train students' knowledge, skills and attitudes towards protecting the nature. Because the virtual trail was developed on the existing path on the protected area, the virtual exercises were also needed to be neutral for the environment. The idea could be later expanded to different locations, which are in more need to be protected or are even unreachable for students from Slovenia. Virtual field trip was tested in the autumn of 2011, where students were also questioned about importance of preserving nature, the ICT as a tool in environmental education, the protected areas etc. The main aim of the questionnaire in this proposal study was to determine the influences of the ICT on the environmental education in the lower secondary school. The main research questions were: a) if students could learn about and feel the protected environment even when working on the computers; and b) if there are any differences in the awareness of protection of the nature between the groups of students which were working on computers to those, which attended the actual field trip. Descriptive statistics were used to point out frequencies of the Likert scale-type instrument, which showed that students believe that ICT alienate them from the nature, but at the same time it could help in its protection. Regarding the willingness to protect the nature and the perception of the usefulness of doing so, the factor analysis was made. Linear regression on factors showed as statistical significant only students' gender and popularity of biology. Finally, additional nonparametric test showed that method of work (real or virtual field trip) have less impact on the environmental education then the gender or popularity of biology among the students.
    Source: Edulearn12 [Elektronski vir] : conference proceedings (Str. 5076-5084)
    Type of material - conference contribution ; adult, serious
    Publish date - 2012
    Language - english
    COBISS.SI-ID - 19269384

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