IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY OF STUDENTS WITH OUTDOOR EDUCATION: 7TH GRADE SCIENCE COURSE HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENT UNIT

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This study aims to reveal the reflections on students’ development of environmental literacy by taking the “Human and Environment” unit in the 7th grade science course with an outdoor teaching approach. Qualitative research methods were used in the study, and the case study design was preferred to examine how students were affected during the process and what gains they achieved while learning the “Human and Environment” unit outside the classroom. Data collection tools were student reflection papers, observer forms, videos and interviews, and the collected data were analysed by using content analysis. Components of environmental literacy were used to interpret the data. The findings of the research showed that students had positive gains in the development of environmentalist views and empathy throughout outdoor learning process. In addition to these, findings also showed that they had attained some personal and social gains such as self-confidence development and communication skills. Research results reveal the usefulness of outdoor teaching in many ways. In this sense, it is recommended to develop alternative outdoor education programs for existing curriculum and to ensure that they are carried out by practitioners under appropriate conditions.

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Environmental literacy , outdoor education , science lesson , human and environment unit

Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi

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Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi