New Perspectives in Science Education
Impact of an Educational Proposal on the Knowledge about Plastics and their Contamination in Grade-8 Students.
MaríadelMar López-Fernández, Science Education. University of Granada (Spain)
Antonio Joaquín Franco Mariscal, Department of Science Education, University of Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga (Spain)
Abstract
Plastic, secondary education, pollution
Plastic pollution is found in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Plastics can enter the food chain and these may accumulate in aquatic species’ organs or humans [1]. People’s attitude towards nature represents the driving force behind the commitment to ecological behaviour [2]. It is necessary to raise environmental awareness at school. For this purpose, a study was carried out with 40 Spanish grade-8 (13-14 years) students from a high school in Malaga. First, the students answered a survey on their knowledge of plastics. Secondly, a design and application on a teaching learning sequence on critical thinking and plastics was carried out [3]. The teaching learning sequence consisted of murals and presentations on the types of plastics, an inquiry into different plastics [4], a role play about the ban single-use plastics, and an audio story. Finally, they did the same survey as post-test. After the educational experience, post-test result was better that pre-test results and students demonstrated an improvement in their attitudes.
[1] Waring, R. H., Harris, R. M., & Mitchell, S. C. (2018). Plastic contamination of the food chain: A threat to human health?. Maturitas, 115, 64-68.
[2] Roczen, N., Kaiser, F. G., Bogner, F. X., & Wilson, M. (2014). A competence model for environmental education. Environment and Behavior, 46(8), 972-992
[3] López-Fernández, M.M, González, F. and Franco-Mariscal, A. J. (2020). Desarollo de prácticas científicas en una secuencia de enseñanza-aprendizaje sobre la contaminación por plásticos en educación secundaria obligatoria en Cebrián, D., Franco-Mariscal, A.J., Lucpión, T., Acebal, M. C & blanco, A. (Ed.), Enseñanza de las ciencias y problemas relevantes de la ciutadanía: Transferencia al aula (Vol. 23). Grao.
[4] López-Fernández, M. M., & Franco-Mariscal, A. J. (2021). Indagación sobre la degradación de plásticos con estudiantes de secundaria. Educación química, 32(2), 21-36.
