ERIC Number: EJ1136554
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Jan
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1931-4744
EISSN: N/A
Service Learning in a Non-Majors Biology Course Promotes Changes in Students' Attitudes and Values about the Environment
Packer, Alissa
International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, v3 n1 Article 17 Jan 2009
I was interested in whether the inclusion of a service-learning experience would affect students' attitudes and values about the environment. To investigate this question, I incorporated a service-learning project into the laboratory portion of one of the two sections of my non-majors biology course, and kept the lecture portions of the course identical. Several methods were used to assess the impact of the service-learning experience: the New Ecological Paradigm survey was used to measure changes in students' attitudes and values about the environment at the beginning and end of the semester, and reflective writing assignments were used throughout the semester qualitatively assess changes. Students' evaluations of the course and the instructor were also compared. As predicted, participation in a service-learning project was associated with changes in students' attitudes and values about the environment. Students in the service-learning lab were also more likely to positively rate the course and the instructor.
Descriptors: Service Learning, Biology, Science Instruction, Student Attitudes, Nonmajors, Student Surveys, Attitude Change, Environment, Values, Introductory Courses, Science Laboratories, College Science, Sustainability, Agricultural Production, Student Evaluation of Teacher Performance, Course Evaluation, Essay Tests, Writing Assignments, Pretests Posttests, College Students
Centers for Teaching & Technology at Georgia Southern University. IJ-SoTL, Georgia Southern University, Henderson Library 1301, Statesboro, GA 30460. e-mail: sotlij@georgiasouthern.edu; Web site: http://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ij-sotl/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Pennsylvania
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A