Archives
Current issue
About
About us
Aims and Scope
Abstracting and Indexing
Editorial Office
Open Access Policy
Publication Ethics
Journal History
Publisher
Follow us: Twitter
Contact
For Authors
Editorial Policy
Peer Review Policy
Manuscript Preparation Guidelines
Copyright & Licencing
Publication Fees
Fee Waiver Policy for Doctoral Students
EJMSTE Language Editing Service
More
Statistics
Special Issues
Special Issue Announcements
Published Special Issues
RESEARCH PAPER
Nurturing Learners’ Awareness of Littering through Environmental Campaigns: An Action Research Approach
1
University of South Africa, SOUTH AFRICA
Online publication date: 2017-09-16
Publication date: 2017-11-10
EURASIA J. Math., Sci Tech. Ed 2017;13(10):6909-6921
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The availability and accessibility of disposable items has contributed immensely to our littering behaviour as humans. People discard plastic containers, paper wrappers and other items by throwing them onto the ground, thus aggravating the problem of littering. This study aims to assist the relevant stakeholders in integrating environmental awareness activities into the school curriculum, to drastically reduce littering in communities. Underpinned by developmental action theory and applied participatory paradigms, the study purports to assess the success of environmental action research campaigns aimed at combatting littering. Fourteen learners from seven classes served as co-researchers, having been randomly selected as participants in this study. Participants’ observations and pictures were used to collect data, before resorting to coding and analysis. The results of the study show an improvement in learners’ awareness of littering, allowing the authors to conclude that action research, if employed in environmental education, can raise learners’ awareness pertaining to littering. A lack of environmental programmes in schools is also to blame for the fact that children often unwittingly litter or pollute their environment.
REFERENCES (55)
1.
Ajaegbo, E., Dashit, S. I., & Akume, A. T. (2012). The determinants of littering attitude in urban neighbourhoods of Jos. Jorind, 10(3), 82-94.
2.
Awuah-Nyamekye, S. (2014). Indigenous ways of creating environmental awareness: A case study from Berekum Traditional Area, Ghana. Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature & Culture, 8(1), 46–63.
3.
Barr, S., Shaw, G., & Coles, T. (2011). Sustainable lifestyles: Sites, practices, and policy. Environment and Planning, 43(12), 3011-3029.
4.
Bharambe, I. T. (2013). Study of environmental awareness among secondary school students. Edubeam Multidisciplinary-Online Research Journal, 1(1), 1-11.
6.
Budvytyte, A. (2011). Environmental education at secondary school system in Lithuania: Using Šilutė as a case. MEd dissertation. Lithuania: Lund University.
7.
Coertjens, L., Boeve-de Pauw, J., De Maeyer, S., & Van Petegem, P. (2010). Do schools make a difference in their students’ environmental attitudes and awareness? Evidence from PISA 2006. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 8(3), 497-522.
8.
Cross, B. A. (2013). The impact of a school garden and environmental education on the environmental awareness of fifth graders. MA dissertation. Louisiana: Southeastern Louisiana Hammond University.
9.
Das, M. (2014). Secondary school students’ awareness on plastic pollution and environmental education: A study. Global Online Electronic International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, 2(5), 10-25.
10.
Doan, K., & Jablonski, B. (2012). In their own words, urban students make suggestions for improving the appearance of their schools. Urban Review Journal, 44, 649-663.
11.
Dyck, S. L. (2012). Engaging families in environmental education: How action, critical thinking, and social learning can foster change. Environmental Education Research, 19(2), 254-255.
13.
Hài, H. V., & Mai, N. P. (2013). Environmental awareness and attitude of Vietnamese consumers towards green purchasing. Journal of Economics and Business, 29(2), 129-141.
14.
Hartley, B. L., Thompson, R. C., & Pahl, S. (2015). Marine litter education boosts children’s understanding and self-reported actions. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 90(1), 209-217.
15.
Hsueh, S. L., & Su, F. L. (2016). Critical factors that influences the success of cultivating seed teachers in environmental education. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education, 12(11), 2817-2833.
16.
Jackson-Tyree, J. E. (2012). Social factors influencing littering in an urban Mexican environment. MSc dissertation. Purdue: Purdue University.
17.
Kara, E. G., Aydos, E. H., & Aydin, Ö. (2015). Changing preschool children’s attitudes into behaviour towards selected environmental issues: An action research study. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, 3(1), 46-63.
18.
Kärkkäinen, S., Haukipuro, L., Rummukainen, A. M., Keinonen, T., & Simola, H. (2013). Environmental responsibility: A case study among sixth graders. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 54, 22-38.
19.
Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (1988). The action research planner. Victoria, Australia: Deakin University Press.
20.
Keramitsoglou, K. M., & Tsagarakis, K. P. (2011). Raising effective awareness for domestic water saving: Evidence from an environmental educational programme in Greece. Water Policy, 13(6), 828-844.
22.
Komane, F. N. (2005). The assessment of environmental awareness of the secondary school learners in the Mabopane District. MSc dissertation. Potchefstroom: North-West University.
23.
Larijani, M. (2010). Assessment of environmental awareness among higher primary school teachers. Journal of Human Ecology, 31(2), 121-124.
24.
Le Grange, L. (2003). Opportunities that the South African OBE curriculum framework provides for addressing environmental concerns. Education as Change, 7(1), 34-49.
25.
Le Grange, L. (2009). Participation and participatory action research (PAR) in environmental education processes: for what are people empowered? Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 25, 3-14.
26.
Lebeloane, L. D. M. (2004). The “beautification of schools” campaign as an environmental management tool. MEd dissertation. Potchefstroom: North-West University.
27.
Loubser, C. P., Swanepoel, C. H., & Chacko, C. P. C. (2001). Concept formulation for environmental literacy. South African Journal of Education, 21(4), 317-323.
28.
Makonya, W. (2004). A study of litter problems in selected secondary schools in Bulawayo. MEd dissertation. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
29.
Maluleke, H. M. (2015). Curriculum policy implementation in the South African context, with reference to environmental education within the natural sciences. DEd thesis. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
30.
Mambinja, S. (2008). School grounds as a place for environmental learning in the life skills learning programme. MEd dissertation. Grahamstown: Rhodes University.
31.
Maree, K., & Pietersen, J. (2008). Sampling. In K. Maree (Ed.), First steps in research (2nd ed.), pp. 171-181. Pretoria: Van Schaik.
32.
Mech, K., & Ojah, J. A. (2016). Study on the awareness and practices of hand washing amongst mothers of under-five children in the slums of Guwahati city. Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 3(24), 1075-1078.
33.
Mnisi, N. D. (2011). Environmental perception, awareness and behaviour of households in the Johannesburg metropolitan area. MSc dissertation. Johannesburg: University of Johannesburg.
34.
Mogensen, F., & Schnack, K. (2010). The action competence approach and the ‘new’ discourses of education for sustainable development, competence and quality criteria, Environmental Education Research, 16(1), 59-74.
35.
Molapo, L., Stears, L., & Dempster, E. (2014). Does formal environmental knowledge inform the everyday practices of senior secondary Biology learners in Lesotho? Southern African Journal of Environmental Education, 30(1), 118-127.
36.
Msezane, S. B. (2014). An exploration of the impact of environmental education innovation on students in sustaining land resources: A case of Mkhondo village. MEd dissertation. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
37.
Msezane, S. B., & Mudau, A. V. (2014). Reconnoitering the stimulus of environmental education in reducing improper solid waste disposal: a case of St Marcia School in the Mkhondo village in Mpumalanga in South Africa. Journal of Human Ecology, 48(3), 367-374.
38.
Mutisya, S. M., & Barker, M. (2011). Pupils’ environmental awareness and knowledge: A springboard for action in primary schools in Kenya’s Rift Valley. Science Education International, 22(1), 55-71.
39.
Obong, L. B., Okey, S. M., Aniah, E. J., & Okaba, L. A. (2010). Strategies for school environmental management in Nigerian secondary schools: A case of Calabar, Nigeria. International Education Studies, 3(1), 96–205.
40.
Ocansey, A. (2006). Attitude of JSS 3 students in the Cape-Coast municipality of Ghana towards littering. MEd dissertation. Cape Coast: University of Cape Coast.
41.
O’Donoghue, R. (2007). Environment and sustainability education in a changing South Africa: A critical historical analysis of outline schemes for defining and guiding learning interactions. Southern African Journal of Environmental Education, 24, 141-157.
42.
Olufemi, A. C., Mji, A., & Mukhola, M. S. (2013). Establishing differences with respect to the levels of awareness and attitudes of learners about environmental pollution: A comparative study of South African provincial secondary school types. Journal of Educational Studies, 12(1), 33-45.
43.
Parkin, F., Shackleton, C., & Schudel, I. (2006). The effectiveness of schools-based National Arbor Week activities in greening of urban homesteads: A case study of Grahamstown, South Africa. Urban forestry & urban greening, 5(4), 177-187.
44.
Pudi, T. I. (2005). Educator roles for technology education teacher–educator. Africa Education Review, 34(1), 147-167.
45.
Republic of South Africa. (1996). Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996. Pretoria: Government Printer.
46.
Rose, S., Spinks, N., & Canhoto, A. I. (2015). Management research: Applying the principles. New York: Routledge.
47.
Scruton, R. (1987). Laughter. In J. Morreall (Ed.). The philosophy of laughter and humour, pp. 156-171. New York: State University of New York Press.
48.
Sehlola, M. S. (2007). A case study of the integration of environmental learning in the primary school curriculum. MEd dissertation. Pretoria: University of Pretoria.
49.
Sethusha, M. J., & Lumadi, M. W. (2013). Grade six learners’ perceptions of environmental awareness: A human ecological support programme. Journal of Human Ecology, 42(2), 113-123.
50.
Silo, N. (2011). Exploring opportunities for action competence development through learners’ participation in waste management activities in selected primary schools in Botswana. DEd thesis. Grahamstown: Rhodes University.
51.
Silo, N., & Mswela, N. (2016). Creating healthy school environments through children–an action competence approach. European Journal of Education Studies, 2(6), 46-62.
52.
Simsekli, Y. (2015). An implementation to raise environmental awareness of elementary education students. Procedia-Social and Behavioural Sciences, 191, 222-226.
53.
Stanišić, J., & Maksić, S. (2014). Environmental education in Serbian primary schools: Challenges and changes in curriculum, pedagogy, and teacher training. Journal of Environmental Education, 45(2), 118-131.
54.
Tsevreni, I. (2011). Towards an environmental education without scientific knowledge: an attempt to create an action model based on children’s experiences, emotions and perceptions about their environment. Environmental Education Research, 17(1), 53-67.
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 1305-8223 |
| ISSN: | 1305-8215 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
