Childhood obesity is a highly complex issue with serious health and environmental implications. It has been postulated that young children (preschool-aged in particular) are able to internalise positive environmental beliefs. Applying a socioecological theoretical perspective, in this discussion paper we argue that although children may…

Environmental theology is a term generally used to describe physical-spiritual worldviews and associated ethics. It has been found that an operational definition or description for environmental theology is not readily available. The purpose of this report is to provide an accessible and objective overview of a topic of interest to environmental…

The field of research in environmental education has experienced several changes in orientation in its first 25 or so years. In the period of the 70s and 80s, the most visible approach to environmental education research was clearly applied science in nature. From the late 80s/early 90s there has been a period of intense debate about research in…

This study attempts to define the contradiction between cooperative learning, which has an important place in science education, and the relative evaluation system. The fixation of the situation which was done with the data obtained from the literature also has been supported with a semi-structured interview study conducted with eighteen science…

Distinguishes possible aging, cohort, and period effects, explaining time series differences by age groups in the General Social Survey data. Results indicate that the decline in environmental concern among most age groups can be accounted for by period effects, but an aging effect is important among young adults. (Author/JN)

Assessed perceived K-16 environmental education curriculum (EE) needs by questionnaires mailed to 169 environmental educators (58.6 percent response rate). Findings show a consensus that EE goals are important ones and that extensive needs exist for both goal-oriented curricula and teacher education. Includes implications based on these and other…

Investigated the ranking of five major biology instructional goals by biology teachers, college/noncollege preparatory biology students, and public school administrators to determine the relative emphasis each group believed should be given to a social/environmental goal. Results show that the ranking of this goal did not differ significantly…

Investigated how state officials most directly involved in hunter education programs perceive problems associated with these programs. Major concerns and constraints focused on: program instruction; course content; and program communication, funding, and evaluation. Includes recommendations (based on analyses of concerns/constraints) to…

Examined differences between university students and permanent residents of an Appalachian community in their attitudes toward the environment and toward proposed local energy-related developments. Data show that townspeople were somewhat more supportive than students of proposed energy developments, which may be due to economic factors rather…

Investigated the role of television as a medium for communicating environmental information to the general public by determining the influence of a Cousteau documentary on viewer knowledge and attitudes and to assess changes in those characteristics over time. Survey form used is included in an appendix. (ML)

Reviews a study's findings on children's (N=267) knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward animals and natural habitats. Research results indicate that existence of three stages in the development of children's perceptions of animals. Major differences in age, sex, ethnicity and urban/rural residence were also noted. (ML)

Reviews published studies (referenced in ERIC Document Retrieval Service) dealing with teacher inservice in environmental education. Includes a chronological summary of the studies between 1970 and 1980. Findings reveal that a wide variety of formats were used but that program effectiveness studies were extremely limited. (ML)

Describes the intent and content of environmental education camps in the Inland Northwest (Idaho and eastern portions of Oregon and Washington). Explains the major tenets of environmental education and relates how they were used in the survey. Results reveal a biological curricular emphasis and an absence of general program goals. (ML)

Examines the effects of sex, grade level, region, and academic preparation of secondary school students on energy opinions. Assesses the responses of students on energy items related to the government, cars, and conservation. Results reveal significant regional and sex differences. (ML)

Compares knowledge and attitude levels of elementary, secondary science, and other secondary teachers on water resources. Evaluates an interactive computer simulation, the "Water Resource Management Simulator" (WRMS), as a training tool for inservice teachers. Users of WRMS exhibited higher knowledge scores than nonusers. No differences existed on…