AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM STRUCTURED SCHOOL PROGRAM’S ABILITY TO IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION ATTITUDES

Wolfe, Sarah Patrice

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM STRUCTURED SCHOOL PROGRAM’S ABILITY TO IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION ATTITUDES

Authors

Wolfe, Sarah Patrice

Abstract

The South Carolina Aquarium offers Structured School Programs (SSP) to schools across South Carolina to provide students a way to interact with the natural world outside of the classroom. This type of conservation based education can increase students’ knowledge and alter their opinions on how they ultimately relate to and impact the environment. This study looked at how the SSP offered for 3rd-5th grade students in Charleston County affected student knowledge and attitudes towards conservation. It used a pre- and post-test model with students, student observation and a follow up teacher survey to assess knowledge and attitudes before and after students attend the SSP. Analysis shows that knowledge and attitudes towards conservation did improve after attending the SSP. There was also a positive correlation between students with higher scores in levels of knowledge and their respective level of conservation understanding. Participant observation and teacher surveys revealed that there is no one element of the programing that stands out as being the catalyst for improving student knowledge and attitudes towards conservation.