Análisis de fiabilidad de la eficacia de un material educativo en el ámbito de la educación ambiental

Abstract

Our study is part of environmental education and sustainable development theories, which focus on teaching for knowing, enjoying and taking care of our natural environment. We have designed, implemented and assessed some instructional materials in order to increase and improve environmental awareness on Spanish Baccalaureate (Science and Engineering branch) students. These materials have been developed in digital format given that information and communication technology (ICT) is getting increasingly present at school. Here we consider that ICT is a very useful element in teaching owing to its allure and its acceptance by students. The three main aspects in this thesis are: Firstly the instructional materials named TierraVerde have been designed using the software Ardora and in CD format. There is a teacher's CD and another one for the student. The teacher's CD includes a presentation of the instructional materials, instructions for a proper use of it, fifty-four activities (three per topic) separated into five main contents blocks and conclusion: © 1st environmental pollution; © 2nd reduce, reuse, recycle; © 3rd natural parks and bird life of Andalucía; © 4th environmental education for sustainable development: climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development; © 5th ICT and environment: the use of ICT in the classroom, industrial innovation in environmental industry and mass medias and environment. The structure of the student's CD follows the same pattern: presentation of the instructional material, fifty-four activities and conclusion. The goal is that our students acquire knowledge, raise awareness and develop attitudes to make them easier to understand the complexity of the interrelationships between ecological, economical, social, political, cultural, ethical and aesthetic aspects that influence the environment. Moreover, the instructional materials try to ensure students to become competent in many important fields such as technology, communication, curiosity, learning how to learn, initiative, responsibility and group work. Secondly, in order to implement the instructional materials, we have worked with Baccalaureate students (Science and Engineering branch) from six education centres from Seville and its province. We have established a control group and an experimental one. We consider that students have to be prepared in the environmental field for the following educational stages, taking into account that environmental education is a very important element in their academic training. Additionally, these students are more prepared to use ICT resources than other stages ones due to their specific training in this field. Finally, the assessment period is done through an experimental design and making the pre- and post-test group measurements. This thesis follows an open and flexible curriculum. The instructional materials have been designed as a way to fulfil the possible modifications and to adapt to students characteristics if it is necessary.