Applied environmental education in lower secondary school 6 classes: The evaluation of the breeding ecology in birds

In this study, it is aimed to investigate the knowledge, emotional approach and behavior tendencies of the lower secondary school 6th grade students through the theoretical environmental education and practical environmental education, and to determine whether the theoretical and practical trainings have a positive effect on them. The research conducted in accordance with the screening model was designed according to the experimental design with pre-test and post-test control group. The population of the study was consisted of the 6th grade students in the secondary school in the 2017-2018 academic year in Serik, Antalya. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 80 middle school 6th grade students studying in Serik district of Antalya province. Simple random sampling method was used in the selection of the students. The data collection tool was collected by a structured questionnaire consisting of 4 sections, namely the Environment Oriented Information Scale (CMS) prepared by Avan (2011), the Environmental Sensitivity Scale (ÇYDUÖ), the Environmental Behavior Scale (ÇYDAÖ) and the Personal Information Form. The reliability of the scales was done and pre-test was applied to the students in the control and experimental groups before the application. Then, the students in the control group were given 6 weeks of theoretical environmental education. Experimental group students were given 6-week theoretical environmental education together with hatchery ecology in birds and applied environmental education in 6 weeks. After the completion of the application phase, the data collection phase was completed by applying the scales as a final test to the control and experimental groups. The collected data were evaluated by using quantitative analysis methods. In the comparison of the experimental and control groups, independent samples t-test and Mann Whitney U test, comparison test for pre-test and post-test scores were used for t-test and Wilcoxon signed sequences test, and correlation analysis between the scales were used. It was determined that the demographic characteristics of the control and experimental group pre-tested before the theoretical and applied environmental education, the information, emotion and behavior tendencies are equivalent to each other. As a result of theoretical and practical environmental education, it has been concluded that applied environmental education in secondary schools is very useful for students to improve their environmental knowledge, to develop positive emotions towards the environment and to gain behaviors. In addition, it was seen that information, emotions and behaviors were positively related to each other and they should be considered together in order to gain environmental awareness.