Student Mental Models of the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem

Michael Dentzau

doi:10.21601/ijese/10972

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Michael Dentzau ¹ ^*

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¹ Columbus State University, UNITED STATES^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

There is a nationwide focus in science education in the United States on the ability of students to develop and use models. Using the Contextual Model of Learning that considers learning is inseparably bound to the context in which it occurs, this study looks at drawings of the longleaf pine ecosystem created by 293 4th Grade students prior to and again after their multiple day visits to an environmental education center in the southeastern United States. Using flora and fauna processes considered as indicative of the ecosystem by ecologists, seven distinct mental model categories were developed from student artifacts. Comparison of the pre to post-frequencies in each model demonstrate a statistically significant increasing level of sophistication in the mental models to more closely approximate the conceptual models of ecologists after participation in instruction at the Center. Progression to more sophisticated mental models was documented even when addressing these models and their development was not a direct intent of the instruction. These data also support the importance that context can play in the learning of ecological concepts and the significance of including informal experiences to the formal K-12 curriculum.

Keywords

environmental education
informal education
drawings
mental models
conceptual models
longleaf pine ecosystem

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

INTERDISCIP J ENV SCI ED, Volume 17, Issue 4, 2021, Article No: e2254

https://doi.org/10.21601/ijese/10972

Publication date: 10 Jun 2021

Article Views: 1709

Article Downloads: 1108

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How to cite this article

APA

Dentzau, M. (2021). Student Mental Models of the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem. Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 17(4), e2254. https://doi.org/10.21601/ijese/10972

Vancouver

Dentzau M. Student Mental Models of the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem. INTERDISCIP J ENV SCI ED. 2021;17(4):e2254. https://doi.org/10.21601/ijese/10972

AMA

Dentzau M. Student Mental Models of the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem. INTERDISCIP J ENV SCI ED. 2021;17(4), e2254. https://doi.org/10.21601/ijese/10972

Chicago

Dentzau, Michael. "Student Mental Models of the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem". Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education 2021 17 no. 4 (2021): e2254. https://doi.org/10.21601/ijese/10972

Harvard

Dentzau, M. (2021). Student Mental Models of the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem. Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 17(4), e2254. https://doi.org/10.21601/ijese/10972

MLA

Dentzau, Michael "Student Mental Models of the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem". Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education, vol. 17, no. 4, 2021, e2254. https://doi.org/10.21601/ijese/10972