Factors influencing the effectiveness of inservice education on the utilization of a multidisciplinary approach to environmental education
The purpose of this study was to develop an inservice model for the systematic inclusion of environmental concepts in the elementary curriculum and to assess the effectiveness of the model in increasing the amount of environmental education in the elementary classroom. The model was based on a multi-disciplinary approach to environmental education and the utilization of peer consultants as inservice trainers. Development of the model involved: identification of a list of basic environmental concepts, development of a sequence of activities which would promote maximum participant involvement, and training of classroom teachers to serve as peer consultants. A three-group, pre-test-post-test research design was utilized to test the effectiveness of the model. Subjects were elementary teachers in the Memphis City Schools. Results of this study indicate that two-hour inservice training in a multi-disciplinary approach to environmental education is not effective in producing a significant change in the attitudes and teaching behavior of elementary teachers. However, inservice groups consulted by specially-trained peers report teaching more environmental concepts than groups consulted by experts. The peer-consulted groups also tend to evaluate the inservice program significantly higher than the expert consulted groups. Finally, there appears to be a significant association between the teacher's perception of principal support and the number of environmental concepts taught.
- OSTI ID:
- 5113678
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320900* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Education & Public Relations-- (1980-)
ATTITUDES
EDUCATION
ENVIRONMENT
FEDERAL REGION IV
NORTH AMERICA
PERSONNEL
PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL
TENNESSEE
TRAINING
USA