Products Evaluation of Environmental Education Curriculum/Program Implementation in the University of Calabar, Nigeria

Chris-Valentine Ogar Eneji, Benard Diwa Otu, Caroline I. Ita, Usang Nkanu Onnoghen, Aganyi Asu Ojong, Stella Bassey Esuabana, Janets Sunday Petters, Lucy Obil Arop, Cecilia Kori Essien, Ettah Ettah Omini, Monity Flora Michael Monity

Abstract


This study evaluates the implementation of the environmental education curriculum in the Department of Environmental Education, University of Calabar, Nigeria. Using the expost facto research design, nine objectives were pursued. These include: 6 strategic objectives, the curriculum content, career prospects of graduates, and lecturer’s pedagogic knowledge and problems militating against the effective implementation of Environmental Education (E.E). A sample of 969 graduates of Environmental Education from 1997-2021, were the respondents. The researchers used an open and closed ended questionnaire with a modified four-point Likert scale response options that they designed as an instrument to collect information.  Simple percentages were used for data analysis. The results of the analyses show that the curriculum content of Environmental Education as in force today is not adequate. The knowledge and awareness acquired when they studied E.E. did not help them enough to solve their community environmental problems. However, Environmental Education built their skills and prepared them well to actively participate in solving current environmental problems. Some of the lecturers who taught these respondents at undergraduate levels have the requisite pedagogic knowledge of the subject matter but, the government who is a signatory to the implementation of Environmental Education is not serious about engaging these graduates. Overall, Thirteen problems were identified as factors hampering the effective implementation of Environmental Education curriculum, and 13 feasible solutions were proffered by the respondents. It was concluded that Environmental Education in the University of Calabar has achieved some level of success, despite the fact that there are some issues that needs to be addressed to get the complete success anticipated by the crafter of the program’s objectives. It was recommended among others that a regulatory body should be created to regulate the practice of Environmental Education in Nigeria.

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.4.22


Keywords


Environmental Education, curriculum evaluation, products evaluations, career prospects, curriculum overhauling, challenges to curriculum implementation.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Amirshokoohi, A. (2010). Elementary preservice teachers’ environmental literacy and views toward science, technology, and society (STS) issues. Science Educator, 19(1), 56–63.

Ana, G. R. E. E., Oloruntoba, E. O., & Sridhar, M. K. C. (2009). Contributions of environmental clubs toward improved environmental programs in selected secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria,Appl. Environ. Educ. Commun., 8, 94-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/15330150903133611

Ardoin, N. M., Bowers, A. W., & Gaillard, E., (2020). Environmental Education outcomes for conservation: A systematic review. Biological Conservation, 241, 108-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108224.

Ardoin, N. M., Clark, C., & Kelsey, E. (2013a). An exploration of future trends in environmental Education research, Environ. Educ. Res., 19(2013), 499-520. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2012.709823

Ardoin, N. M, Bowers, A. W., Roth, N. W., & Holthuis, N. (2018). Environmental Education and K-12 student outcomes: a review and analysis of research, J. Environ. Educ., 49, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2017.1366155

Ardoin, N. M., & Heimlich, J. E. (2013b). Views from the field: conservation educators and practitioners perceptions of education as a strategy for achieving conservation outcomes. J. Environ. Educ., 44 (2013), 97-115. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2012.700963

Ardoin, N. M. Biedenweg, K., & O’Connor, K. (2015). Evaluation in residential Environmental Education: an applied literature review of intermediary outcomes. Appl. Environ. Educ. Commun., 14 (2015), 43-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533015X.2015.1013225

Astutik, I. R. I., & Widiaty, I., (2018). Integrated Management Information System for Curriculum in University; IOP Conf. Ser.: IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 384. http://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/384/1/012077

Ballard, H. L., & Belsky, J. M. (2010). Participatory action research and environmental learning: implications for resilient forests and communities, Environ. Educ. Res., 16, 611-627. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2010.505440

Ballard, H. L., Robinson, L. D., Young, A. N., Pauly, G. B., Higgins, L. M., Johnson, R. F., & Tweddle, J. C. (2017). Contributions to conservation outcomes by natural history museum-led citizen science: examining evidence and next steps. Biol. Conserv., 208, 87-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.08.040

Barnosky, A. D., & Hadly, E. A. (2016). Tipping Point for Planet Earth: How Close Are We to the Edge? Thomas Dunne Books, New York.

Bilbao, Purita P., Lucido, Paz I., Iringan, Tomasa C. & Javier, Rodrigo B. (2008). Development. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.

Blatt, E. N. (2013). Exploring environmental identity and behavioral change in an environmental science course. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 8, 467-488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-012-9459-2

Bull, M. (2013). Transformative sustainability learning: cultivating a tree-planting ethos in Western Kenya,J. Educ. Sustain. Dev., 7, 5-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/0973408213495599

Camp, E., & Fraser, D. (2012). Influence of conservation education dive briefings as a management tool on the timing and nature of recreational SCUBA diving impacts on coral reefs, Ocean Coast. Manag., 6, 30-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2012.02.002

Carleton-Hug, A. & Hug, J.W. (2010). Challenges and opportunities for evaluating environmental education programs, Eval. Program Plann., 33, 159-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2009.07.005

Catalano, A.S., Redford, K, Margoluis, R. & Knight, A.T. (2018). Black swans, cognition, and the power of learning from failure. Conserv. Biol., 32, 584-596. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13045

Crohn,K. & Birnbaum, M. (2010). Environmental Education evaluation: Time to reflect, time for change, Evaluation and Program Planning, 33(2), 155-158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2009.07.004

Eneji, C. V. O., Onnoghen, N. U., Agiande, D., & Okon, G. M. (2019). Lecturer’s industrial actions and Environmental Education student’s academic performance in the University of Calabar, Nigeria. Civil and Environmental Research, 11(7), 45-55. https://doi.org/10.7176/CER

Eneji, C.V.O. (2017a). Introduction to Environmental Education: Historical Groundwork and Foundation of Environmental Education. Calabar, Ushie Printers

Eneji, C.V.O., (2017b). A Handbook on Environmental Impact Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ushie Printers, Calabar, Nigeria.

Eneji, C.V.O., Eneji, J. E. O., Ngoka, V. N., & Abang, M. (2017c). Attitude towards Waste Management and Disposal Methods and the Health Status of Cross River State, Nigeria. SCIREA Journal of Agriculture, 1(2), 231-247. http://www.scirea.org/journal/Agriculture

Godin, K., Stapleton, J., Kirkpatrick, S. I., Hanning, R. M., & Leatherdale, S. T. (2015). Applying systematic review search methods to the grey literature: a case study examining guidelines for school-based breakfast programs in Canada. Syst. Rev., 4, 122-134. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-015-0125-0

Gonzaga, M. L. (2016). Awareness and Practices in Green Technology of College Students. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 848, 223-227. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.848.223

Gooder, G and Cantwell, S., (2017). Student Experiences with a newly developed concept-based curriculum. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 12(2), 142-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2016.11.002

Hancock, D., Dyk, P. H., & Jones, K. (2012). Adolescent Involvement in Extracurricular Activities. Journal of Leadership Education, 11(1), 84–101.

Harder, M.K., Velasco, I., Burford, G., Podger, D., Janoušková, S., Piggot, G & Hoover, E. (2014). Reconceptualizing “effectiveness” in environmental projects: can we measure values-related achievements? J. Environ. Manage., 139 (2014), 120-134. http:// doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.02.022

Harrison, C. V. (2020). Concept-based curriculum: design and implementation strategies. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 17(1), 20190066. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2019-0066

Kelani, R. R. & Khourey-Bowers, C. (2012). Professional development in sub-Saharan Africa: what have we learned in Benin? Professional Development in Education, 38(5), 705-723. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2012.670128

Kelani, R. R. (2015). Integration of Environmental Education in science curricula in secondary schools in Benin, West Africa: Teachers’ perceptions and challenges. Electronic Journal of Science Education 19(3), 1-24. http://ejse.southwestern.edu

Knight, A. T., Cook, C. N., Redford, K. H., Biggs, D., Romero, Ortega-Argueta, A., Norman, C. D., Parsons, B., Reynolds, M., Eoyang, G., & Keene,M. (2019). Improving conservation practice with principles and tools from systems thinking and evaluation. Sustain. Sci. 5, 221-223. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00676-x

Krasny, M. E., Lundholm, C., & Plummer, R. (2010). Environmental Education, resilience, and learning: reflection and moving forward. Environ. Educ. Res., 16, 665-672. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2010.505445

Kuhar, C. W., Bettinger, T. L., Lehnhardt, K., Tracy, O., & Cox, D. (2010). Evaluating for long-term impact of an Environmental Education program at the Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Uganda. Am. J. Primatol., 72407-72413. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20726

Lemos, M. C., Arnott, J. C., Ardoin, N. M., Baja, K., Bednarek, A. T., Dewulf, A., Fieseler, C. et al. (2018). To co-produce or not to co-produce? Nat. Sustain. 22, 01-22. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0191-0

Lewis, E., Mansfield, C., & Baudains, C. (2014). Ten tonne plan: education for sustainability from a whole systems thinking perspective. Appl. Environ. Educ. Commun., 13, 128-141. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533015X.2014.950890

Maria del Carmen, C., & Sanchez, J. S. (2010). The school curriculum and Environmental Education: A school environmental audit experience. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 5(4), 477-494. http://www.ijese.com/

Marpa, E. P., & Juele, M. H. R. (2016). Environmental awareness and practices among high school students: Basis for disaster preparedness program. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 848, 240-243. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.848.240

Mbilinyi, D., & Msuya, J. (2018). Knowledge and strategies of controlling plagiarism at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. University of Dar es Salaam Library Journal, 13(2), 33-48. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/udslj/article/view/184597/173954

McDonald, J. T., & Dominquez, L. A. (2010). Professional preparation for science teachers in Environmental Education. In A. M. Bodzin (Ed.), The inclusion of Environmental Education in science teacher education (pp. 17–30). Dordrecht, NL: Springer.

McKinley, D. C., Stepenuck, K. F., Chapin, S. F., Wiggins, A., Shirk, J. L., Hewitt, D. A., Ryan, S. F., Ballard, H. L., French, R. A., Bonney, R., Soukup, M. A., Cook Patto, S. C., Evans, D. M., Boyle, O. D., Parrish, J. K., Briggs, R. D., Shanley, L. A., Miller, A. J., Rushing, P. W., Preuss, H., Brown, T. B., Phillips, J. F., Weltzin, (2017). Citizen science can improve conservation science, natural resource management and environmental protection. Biol. Conserv., 208, 5-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.05.015

Mellish, S., Ryan, J. C., Pearson, E. L., & Tuckey, M. R. (2019). Research methods and reporting practices in zoo and aquarium conservation-education evaluation. Conserv. Biol., 33, 40-52. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13177

Monroe, M. C., & Krasny, M. E. (2016). Across the Spectrum: Resources for Environmental Education (3rd ed.), North American Association for Environmental Education, Washington, DC.

Monroe, M. C., Plate, R. R., Oxarart, A., Bowers, A., & Chaves, W. A. (2017). Identifying effective climate change education strategies: a systematic review of the research. Environ. Educ. Res. 2017, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2017.1360842

Murray, S., Laurent, K., & Gontarz, J., (2015). Evaluation of a concept-based curriculum: A tool and process. Teaching and Learning in Nursing; 10(4, October), 169-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2015.08.002

Okhakhu, M., & Evawoma-Enuku, U. (2011). Enhancing correctional education through Community theatre: The Benin Prison experience. Education, 131(3), 525-532. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS

Onnoghen, U. N., Eneji, C.V.O., Petters, J. S., & Peters, C. B. (2020). School Environment and Environmental Education Lecturer’s Job Performance in the University of Calabar, Nigeria. GIS Business, 15(2), 160-186.

Petegem, P. V., Blieck, A., & Pauw, J. B. (2007). Evaluating the Implementation Process of Environmental Education in Preservice Teacher Education: Two Case Studies. The Journal of Environmental Education, 38(2), 47-54. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOEE.38.1.47-54

Pirrie, A., Elliot, D., McConnell, F, & Wilkinson, J. E. (2006). Evaluation of Eco Schools Scotland. Glasgow: University of Glasgow.

Punzalan, C. H. (2020). Evaluating the Environmental Awareness and Practices of Senior High School Students: Basis for Environmental Education Program. Aquademia, 4(1), ep20012. https://doi.org/10.29333/aquademia/8219

Seo, E., Ryu, J., & Hwang, Y. (2020). Building key competencies into an Environmental Education curriculum using a modified Delphi approach in South Korea, Environmental Education Research, 26(6), 890-914. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2020.1733493

Sotiriadou, P., Logan, D., Daly, A. & Guest, R. (2019). The role of authentic assessment to preserve academic integrity and promote skill development and employability. Studies in Higher Education, 45(11), 2132-2148. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1582015

Stevenson, K. T., Peterson, M. N., Carrier, S. J., Strnad, R. L., Olson, R. A. & Szczytko, R. E., (2019). Making the case for a null effects framework in Environmental Education and K-12 academic outcomes: when “just as good” is a great thing. Front. Commun. 3, Article 59. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2018.00059

Thomas, R. E. W., Teel, T., Bruyere, B., & Laurence, S. (2018). Metrics and outcomes of conservation education: a quarter century of lessons learned. Environ. Educ. Res., 25, 172-192. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2018.1450849

Toomey, A.H., Knight, A.T. & Barlow, J. (2017). Navigating the space between research and implementation in conservation. Conserv. Lett., 10, 619-625. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12315

United Nation Educational and Scientific Organization/ United Nation Environmental Program (UNESCO/ UNEP) (1977). Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education, October 14-26, 1977. https://www.gdrc.org

United Nation Conference On Human Environment (UNCHE) (1975). UNESCO- UNEP International Workshop On Environmental Education 91975) 13th- 22nd October, 1975. International Environmental Workshop In Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

Yoni, N., & Dasining, Y. (2018). Curriculum Development Based On INQF and Business /Industries Sector for Improvement Competency of Basic Pattern Making Students at Vocational High School. IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 336, 012029. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/336/1/012029

Yuxuan, Z., Xianbo, P. & Xiaoli, C., (2022). Faculty's experience in developing and implementing concept-based teaching of baccalaureate nursing education in the Chinese context: A descriptive qualitative research study, Nurse Education Today, 108, 105126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105126


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


e-ISSN: 1694-2116

p-ISSN: 1694-2493