Exploring Techniques for Integrating Mobile Technology into Field-Based Environmental Education

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Carrie Lyndall Anderson
Brant G Miller
Karla Bradley Eitel
George Veletsianos
Jan U.H. Eitel
Robert Justin Hougham

Abstract

Environmental education authors have argued for cultivating a relationship with nature and the outdoors, and have urged parents to "unplug" their children from technology. In this perspective, technology is seen as curtailing ties to the environment and its use needs to be limited. In this paper, we consider the idea that while technology may contribute to children's disconnect from the natural world around them, it could also support being outdoors. Thus, we explore techniques for incorporating mobile technology into a field-based environmental science curriculum and compare two approaches to field-based environmental education: a traditional approach and a traditional-plus technological intervention approach. A mixed methods design was used to evaluate learning outcomes and record observations. Based on comparisons of pre- and post-test scores and common themes detected through reflexive journaling, results show that the traditional-plus approach to environmental education facilitated an increase in student knowledge and comprehension during a weeklong residential science program. Appropriate implementation of technology can enable outdoor education to enhance existing practice, but there is still a need for further research on the topic.

Article Details

Section
Research / Empirical
Author Biographies

Carrie Lyndall Anderson, University of Idaho

At the time that this research was conducted, I was a graduate student in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and a Graduate Field Instructor at the McCall Outdoor Science School.

Brant G Miller, University of Idaho

Assistant Professor of science education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Karla Bradley Eitel, University of Idaho

Assistant Research Professor, and the Director of Education at the McCall Outdoor Science School

George Veletsianos, Royal Roads University

Canada Research Chair in Innovative Learning and Technology and Associate Professor in the School of Education and Technology

Jan U.H. Eitel, University of Idaho

Research Assistant Professor in the Geospatial Laboratory for Environmental Dynamics and Researcher in Residence at the McCall Outdoor Science School

Robert Justin Hougham, University of Wisconsin-Extension

Director of the Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center and Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Extension