Promoting Ocean Literacy in Elementary School Students Through Investigation Activities and Citizen Science

Abstract

To enable the process of energy transition towards carbon neutrality, it is important to educate the community on the need for social, economic, environmental and institutional transformation, and to educate and inform citizens to participate proactively in this change. This study evaluated the effectiveness of participation by elementary school students in educational activities and citizen science actions in enhancing their scientific knowledge and skills related to Ocean Literacy in the context of climate change. The activities were directed to children (aged 9–11) and involved pre-service teachers, in-service teachers and researchers, in formal and non-formal contexts. A total of 329 elementary school students participated in interdisciplinary science activities, focusing on the cause & effect of climate change in the ocean. They learned to identify rocky shore marine species used to monitor climate change and acquired ICT skills by inserting species observations in a biodiversity mapping platform. Finally, students worked collaboratively to communicate to the community what they have learned through an exhibition at the Museum João de Deus. To assess the impact of the activities on acquisition of scientific knowledge and skills by the students, a mixed methodology was applied using pre and post-tests, analysis of the data inserted by students in the platform, and content analysis of the students’ work for the museum exhibition. The results of pre and post-tests revealed a significant increase in knowledge of the effects of climate change on the rocky shore species distribution, as well as of the importance of monitoring these species distribution. The data from the online biodiversity platform showed that 42% of the species identifications made by the students were correct. The ability of the students to communicate their learning to the wider community was evaluated by the scientific content, structure, presentation and creativity and of posters, models, videos and games produced. Most of students focused their communications and creations on the greenhouse effect, cause & effect of climate change in the ocean and biodiversity. This study reinforces the importance of addressing Ocean Literacy and climate change through formal and non-formal educational activities with an investigative nature.

The importance of public engagement for maerl conservation: Insights from Scotland

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The role of art in coastal and marine sustainability

“…Furthermore, artistic practices are defined according to the characteristics of the society and culture in which they are included, and of the bodies of the human beings who listen to them, and create and perform them (Blacking, 1974). Hence, we intended to apprehend if there was some sort of intention of an expressive practice as art, either by the direct mention of such intention, by the context where it was being described (e.g., presented in an art museum or art festival; D'Ambrosio and Dominici, 2019; Liburd and Derkzen, 2009), or for a sort of practice that one could understand that involved artistic creation in a way that could be perceived as art (e.g., children drawing; Boaventura et al, 2021;Pantaleo, 2021). To organize and systematize the artworks, we adopted the Classification of the Arts of McCarthy et al (2001), adding sub-disciplines, when absent.…”

Pengenalan Marine Citizenship melalui Pendidikan Lingkungan bagi Siswa SDN 02 Bagolo, Kalipucang Pangandaran

“…Marine citizenship memerlukan dukungan penumbuhan kepedulian dan partisipasi aktif diawali dari pengetahuan dan adanya rasa kepemilikan. Usia sekolah dasar merupakan tahapan yang cukup vital untuk penanaman karakter yang mendukung marine citizenship (Boaventura et al, 2021). Aktivitas pendidikan lingkungan merupakan bagian dari proses pendalaman pengetahuan konservasi bagi generasi muda agar memiliki keterampilan mengelola dan memanfaatkan sumberdaya hayati laut secara lestari dan berkelanjutan.…”