Education of students from Greek schools regarding natural disasters through STEAM

Abstract

The goal of our research is to educate students at primary schools in Greece on rapid ongoing natural disasters through the holistic-interdisciplinary science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM)-based method. As a learning tool, an integrated program was designed with a variety of actions and activities aiming to experientially educate students in a holistic-interdisciplinary STEAM-based way. These are based on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. This three-month program was chosen to be conducted in a private school of Attica, Greece, for the course “skill laboratories”. It was conducted to students of the second (seven years old) and the fifth grade of primary school (10 years old). In the beginning and the end of the program, the 133 participating students were given questionnaires, in order for the program to be assessed as to whether it managed to accomplish the initial goals. A total of 266 digital questionnaires were collected through ArcGIS survey123 application (part of geospatial cloud by Esri), which is an integrated solution for the creation, distribution and analysis of survey data. From the statistical analysis of their answers, the conclusion was that the vast majority of the students felt stress, confusion, depression and shock when they saw a forest fire. Most kids stated that they have thought of the consequences of extended wildfires and the flood events that follow.

A GIS-Based Assessment of Flood Hazard through Track Records over the 1886–2022 Period in Greece

“…Despite the frequency of such natural and social disasters, their severity and the damage and losses they cause, education on disasters at primary and secondary schools is unfortunately not given its proper value. This was confirmed by a survey for 2000 educators and students in Greece in 2020 [149,150]. According to the survey, 95% of the educators answered that they consider it possible for a rapid onset natural disaster to occur while they are at school.…”

“…It is thus evident that, in any case, an integrated catalog of flood events at a national level could arguably contribute to raising people's awareness regarding the severity of the phenomenon, as well as other characteristics (mainly spatial and temporal distribution, as well as relationship to urbanization). Actions need to be taken, besides those aiming to increase protection against floods and reduction of potential impacts, in order to increase people's awareness and knowledge on the factors causing floods and mitigation strategies [149,150]. These actions need to be taken for all citizens and address the importance of prevention as opposed to rehabilitation [148].…”