An exploration of the state and status of nature awareness, appreciation and education in the Irish primary school system
Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: \nThis research explores the state and status of nature awareness, appreciation and education in \nthe Irish primary system. The research was undertaken because personal observation, \nanecdotal evidence, media reports and literature seem to indicate that children today are not \nengaging deeply with nature both at home or at school. This perceived lack of engagement is \na cause of concern in a time of increasing biodiversity depletion and environmental \ndegradation. The research design consists of a mixed methods approach in which (1) mainly \nquantitative methods are used (a) to elicit the views of 219 practising primary teachers based \nin schools in the counties of all four provinces on the question, (b) the nature-knowledge of \n253 first year ITE students based on the content that sixth-class pupils would be expected to \nbe familiar with, and (c), the status accorded to nature by inspectors in 220 primary schools \nsituated across the country. (2) Qualitative methods are mainly used (a) to elicit the views of \nsix experienced external visitors to primary schools who are knowledgeable about nature. \nThe research finds that nature awareness, appreciation and education in primary schools is in \ndecline due to a variety of factors such as poor school-ground design, lack of knowledge of \nteachers, lack of time to engage children with this domain of learning especially in an outdoor \nframework and lack of emphasis on it in ITE and by significant stakeholders in primary \neducation. These findings are significant because the literature constantly reiterates the fact \nthat children?s meaningful engagement with nature is beneficial for their mental and physical \nhealth, their aesthetic and spiritual appreciation, and their creative, cognitive and emotional \ndevelopment.
Author: Patrick Anthony Madden
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2939160350