An Assessment of Korean Students’ Environmental Literacy

  • Shin Donghee (Department of Science Education, Dankook University) ;
  • Chu Hyeeun (Department of Science Education, Dankook University) ;
  • Lee Eunah (Department of Science Education, Dankook University) ;
  • Ko Heeryung (Department of Science Education, Dankook University) ;
  • Lee Moonam (Department of Science Education, Dankook University) ;
  • Kang Kyunghee (Department of Science Education, Dankook University) ;
  • Min Byungmee (Department of Science Education, Dankook University) ;
  • Park Junehee (Department of Science Education, Dankook University)
  • Published : 2005.05.01

Abstract

This study was initiated to understand what students know, how they feel, and how they act in the perspectives of environmental literacy. This study takes it a very serious problem that there has been no data about Korean students’status of environmental literacy so far. Based on the correct diagnosis of Korean students’ environmental literacy, environmental education in Korea, including national curriculum, teaching materials and strategy, would take the right way. This study accepts Simmon (1995)’s framework of environmental literacy, consisting of 5 areas, environmental knowledge, skills, affect, and behavior, which is consistent with general goals of environmental education. This study analyzed the relationship between areas in environmental literacy and factors contributing to improving students’ environmental literacy. This study also checked which factors, including age, gender, parents’ schooling, environmental education in schools, and students’ science-related attributes, contributed to improving students’ environmental literacy. The results of this study will help science educators keep in mind how important it is to teach science from the perspectives of environmental literacy.

Keywords

References

  1. Hines, J.M., Hungerford, H.R., & Tomera, A.N. (1986/ 1987). Analysis and synthesis of research on responsible environmental behavior: a meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Education, 18 (2), 1-8
  2. Hsu, S. & Roth, R.E. (1998). An assessment of environmental literacy and analysis of predictors of responsible environmental behavior held by secondary teachers in the Hualien area of Taiwan. Environmental Education Research, 4 (3), 229-249 https://doi.org/10.1080/1350462980040301
  3. Marcinkowski, T.J. (1998). An analysis of correlates and predictors of responsible environmental behavior. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
  4. Marcinkowski, T.J. & Rehring, L. (1995). The secondary school report: A final report on the development, pilot testing, validation, and field testing of the secondary school environmental literacy assessment instrument. Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency
  5. Roth, C.E. (1992). Environmental literacy: its roots, evolution, and directions in the 1990s. (Columbus, OH, ERlC/SMEAC Information Reference Center)
  6. Shin, D. (2001). Earth science in the perspectives of environmental education. Journal of Korean Earth Science Society, 22 (2), 147-158
  7. Shin, D. & Noh, K. (2002). Korean students' scientific literacy. Journal of the Association of Research in Science Education, 22 (1), 76-92
  8. Shin, D., Lee, Y., Lee, K., Lee, E., and Lee, K. (2005). Identification of the future-oriented earth science education placing on the 'earth environment'. Journal of the Korean association of Research in Science Education, 25 (1), 239-259
  9. Sia, A.P., Hungerford, H.R., & Omera, A.N. (1985/1986). Selected prodictors of responsible environmental behavior: an analysis. Journal of Environmental Education, 17 (2), 31-40 https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.1986.9941408
  10. Simmons, D. (1995). The NAAEE standards project. University in Dekalb: Illinois
  11. Sivek, D.J. & Hungerford, H.R. (1989/1990). Predictors of responsible behavior in members of three Wisconsin conservation organizations. Journal of Environmental Education, 21 (2), 35-40 https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.1990.9941929
  12. Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (1997). Are we walking the talk? Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education