Analysis of preschool textbooks in terms of attention to environmental components

Subject Areas : Sustainable Development

Arezoo porkar ¹ , khadijeh azar ² , Mahdiyeh Shadpoor Gavabari ³

1 - Ph.D. students in Educational Management, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
2 - Ph.D. in Educational Administration, smart University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.. *(Corresponding Author)
3 - Education Teacher, Roudsar, Guilan, Iran.

Received: 2020-11-23 Accepted : 2021-03-10 Published : 2022-12-22

Keywords: Environmental education, Environmental pollution, Content of preschool textbooks, Preschool, Wisconsin Standard,

Abstract :

Background and Objective: Education is the most effective mechanism for society to deal with the greatest challenge of this century; That is, environmental pollution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attention to environmental education in preschool textbooks. Material and Methodology: All Guilan preschool education textbooks were selected as the statistical population of the research and considering the nature of the present study, the entire statistical population was considered as the sample. The Study tools was a content analysis research checklist, including Wisconsin standards of environmental education. Accordingly, in the preschool textbooks, the sub-components related to each of the five key components of the above standards were extracted and each component was formulated into five sub-components. Findings: After coding and counting the frequency of each of the sub-components, using descriptive statistics (frequency, relative frequency and cumulative frequency), the most attention was paid to the field of question and analysis skills (84.72%); then, personal and civil responsibility (6.38%); the skill of action and decision making (5%); the knowledge of natural processes and systems (2.77%); and, finally, the skill of studying environmental issues have allocated the least amount of attention (1.11%). Discussion and Conclusion: Since the attention to the criterias of environmental education in the content of preschool curriculum was not optimal and satisfactory, which is considered as a disadvantage of these books. Therefore, duo to the importance of teaching these issues in preschool education as Basic course in child learning, it is suggested that educational content planners focus more on textbook compilation, revision and incorporation of environmental education indicators and standards into textbooks.  

References:

1. Dabiri, M. (2014). Environmental Pollution, Air-Water-Soil-Sound.  Alliance Publication. (In Persian)


2. Ardakani, M. R. (2001). “Ecology”. Tehran University, Institute of Publishing and Printing. (In Persian)


3. Ghaffari, h., younesi, A., & Rafieie, M. (2017). “Analysing the role of investment in education on sustainable development; with special emphasis on environmental education”. Quarterly Journal of Environmental education and sustainable development, 1(5), 79-100. (In Persian)


4. Ravanshadnia, M. (2013). ”Safety Management in Construction Projects”. Simayedanesh Publication. (In Persian)


5. Barkhordar, B. (2008). “Environmental knowledge”. Payam Noor University Publication. (In Persian)


6. Moghimi, N. & Jahansooz, A. R. (2015). ”Natural Resources and Environment”, Ministry of Education, Planning and Writing Commission, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Tehran, Iran Textbook Publishing Company. (In Persian)


7. Watt, K. (2014). "Principles of environmental science". Vahabzadeh, A. H. ACERC Publication, University of Mashhad. (In Persian)


8. Emami Rad, A.M., Choobkar, N., & Hosseyni, Sh. (2016). ”Environmental pollutions and their Control strategies”. (With Emphasis on new Methods). Tehran, ACERC Publication, Amirkabir University of Technology Branch. (In Persian)


9. Yencken, D., Fien, J. & Sykes, H.(2002). "Environment, Education andsociety in the Asia- Pacific". NewYork. USA.


10. Parishani, N., Mirshah Jafari, S.E., Sharifian, F., &Farhadian, M. (2018). ”The Inclusion of Environmental Education Topics in Iranian Secondary Education Textbooks and Prioritizing Neglected Topics”. Quarterly Journal of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 7(1), 9-18. (In Persian)


11. Uyar, y. & Ensar, F. (2016). "Does Mother Tongue Education Support Developmentof Environmental Literacy in Turkey? An Analysis of Turkish CourseBooks". International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 11(1), 1-8.


12. Chandra, Y., & Linthoingambi Devi, N. (2009). “Studies on Municipal Solid Waste Management in Mysore City- A case study”. Report and Opinion, 1 (3), 15-21.


13. Zsóka, A., Marjainé S. Z., Széchy, Anna. & Kocsis, T. (2013). “Greening due to environmental education? Environmental knowledge, attitudes, consumer behavior and everyday pro-environmental activities of Hungarian high school and university students”. Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 48, 126-138.


14. Kaul, V. (2011). “Early childhood education program”. Mofidi, F. Samt Publication, Tehran. (In Persian)


15. Reynolds, A.J. (2009), “Preschool Education, Educational Attainment, and Crime Prevention,” Journal of Social Science, 32 (8), 1054-1063.


16. Krogh, S. I. (2011). “Early Childhood Education,” Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, Published in the uk. Cambridge University.


17. Smith, P.K. (2010). “Ecology of Preschool Behaviouer”. Published in the United State of Amerrican by Cambbridg University.


18. Ghazavi, M., Liyaghatdar, M.G., & Abedi, A. (2009). “Content Analysis of Books Experimental Sciences Elementary time from providing information to environmental problems”. Journal of Education, (28), 128-152. (In Persian)


19. Mohammadi Ostadkelayeh, M., Zandi, B., Hatami, J., & Shiri, S.M. (2018). “Design and Validation a Pattern of Integrated Curriculum in Environmental Education for Pre-Primary School Children”. Quarterly Journal of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 1(7), 115-126. (In Persian)


20. Mehraban, Z. (2017). “Environmental Education in Experimental Science Textbooks First Elementary School First Grade Ta sum”. 4th International Conference on Environmental Planning and Management. (In Persian)


21. Lahijanian, A & Abbasi, Sh. (2016). “Efficient Energy Consumption Education in Primary Schools”. Journal of Environmental science and Technology, 2(18), 515-531. (In Persian)


22. Hemmati, Z & Shobeiri, S.M. (2016). “Review the status of environmental education in Iran and comparison with other countries”. Human and Environment, 2(14), 61-81. (In Persian)


23. Nasiri, H., Mofidi, F., Koulayenezhad, J., & Afshar, E. (2015). “The Impact of Creative Theatrical Activities onTeaching andLearning Environmental Concepts in Babak City Preschool Children”. First International Conference on Management, Economics, Accounting and Educational Sciences, Sari, Future Research & Consulting Company, Payam Noor Necca University. (In Persian)


24. Mahdavi ikdelu, F. (2018). The study of the existing environmental content sciences textbooks status in general education course. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. doi: 10.22034/jest.2018.10790.1941. (In Persian)


25. Andrikopoulou, E., & Koutrouba, K. (2019). “Promoting Mindfulness about the Environment through the Use of Drama in the Primary Classroom: Greek Teachers’ Views and Attitudes”. Education Sciences.


26. Artun, H & Özsevgeç, T. (2018). “Influence of Environmental Education Modular Curriculum on Academic Achievement and conceptual underestanding”. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education, 8(2), 150-171.


27. Artun, H & Özsevgeç, T. (2016). “A Study on the Evaluation of the Applicability of an Environmental Education Modular Curriculum”. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 11(15), 7318-7347.


28. Icoz, O.F. (2015). “Turkish Chemistry Teachers' Views about Secondary School Chemistry Curriculum: A Perspective from Environmental Education”. Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health, 1(2), 79-87.


29. Stanišić, J. & Maksić, S. (2014). “Environmental Education in Serbian Primary Schools: Challenges and Changes in Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Teacher Training”. The Journal of Environmental Education, 45(2), 118-131.


30. Fortier, J. D., Grady, Susan M., Lee, & Shelley, A. (1998). "Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards for EnvironmentalEducation. Wisconsin Department of public Instruction. International”. Journal of Education Development, 22, 35-46.


31. Karimi, B., Kian, M., &Aliasgari, M. (2017)."Designing the Environmental Education Curriculum for Elementary Schools in Iran".Quarterly Journal of Environmental education and sustainable development, 5(4), 9-23. (In Persian)