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Episodes 2024; 47(4): 753-765

Published online December 1, 2024

https://doi.org/10.18814/epiiugs/2024/02404s01

Copyright © International Union of Geological Sciences.

Non-formal secondary students’ education to develop environmental insight

Tiago Ribeiro*, Clara Vasconcelos

Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Matosinhos, Portugal; Faculty of Sciences (FCUP), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

Correspondence to:*E-mail: tribeiro@fc.up.pt

Received: January 23, 2023; Revised: April 6, 2024; Accepted: April 6, 2024

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Earth and the human species’ sustainability are threatened, being necessary to promote a collective shift in how we think about our relationship with the Earth to minimise anthropic impacts. Earth System Education (ESE) and geoethics can promote competencies development, such as environmental insight and systemic thinking. This research aimed to develop a holistic and geoethical view of the Earth. A mixed methods approach was adopted to evaluate this intervention’s impact. The quantitative phase consisted of a quasi-experimental study to assess knowledge about the Earth system and geoethics of 59 secondary students (n=59). The cognitive tests revealed that students developed environmental insight competency and knowledge regarding geoethics, with an increase of 21.4% in the classifications. The t-test for paired samples was performed, obtaining statistical significance. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were carried out with six students to determine the potential of their participation in developing pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. All interviewees expressed that their involvement in the study contributed to an attitudinal and behavioural change through more excellent reflection and knowledge. The results revealed that the development of non-formal activities on ESE and geoethics can enhance scientific literacy towards actions aligned with sustainability.