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Article
Using the chemistry classroom as the starting point for engaging urban high school students and their families in pro-environmental behaviors
International Journal of Science Education, Part B (2016)
  • Patrick L. Duabenmire, Loyola University Chicago
  • Mary T. van Opstal
  • Natalie J. Hall
  • Bryan Wunar
  • Nicole Kowrach
Abstract
Evolving mobile technology and the rapid spread of STEM-focused informal learning environments have created a unique opportunity to break through the barriers that have traditionally separated diverse learning contexts such as school, family, and community. Previous research suggest that in a well-designed family learning environment, both parents and children can make significant gains in science knowledge, science skills, and positive attitudes toward science, and academic self-efficacy. Families, Organizations, and Communities Understanding Science, Sustainability, and Service (FOCUSSS) is a design-based research project created to blur the boundaries between formal and informal learning contexts: chemistry classrooms (formal environments) and at-home, local, and museum (informal environments). In doing so, adoption of real-world, pro-environmental behaviors can be promoted to have tangible positive impacts on individuals, families, communities, and the environment. Data from this two-year program support that cutting across contexts does indeed correlate with increased self-efficacy in science and positive changes in pro-environmental behavior. Furthermore, the FOCUSSS design framework appears to be quite robust, delivering consistent results across variations including teacher, grade level, school type (neighborhood, charter, private), and parent education.
Keywords
  • Design-based research,
  • sustainability science,
  • informal-formal collaborations,
  • pro-environmental behavior
Disciplines
Publication Date
July 18, 2016
DOI
10.1080/21548455.2016.1173740
Citation Information
Patrick L. Duabenmire, Mary T. van Opstal, Natalie J. Hall, Bryan Wunar, et al.. "Using the chemistry classroom as the starting point for engaging urban high school students and their families in pro-environmental behaviors" International Journal of Science Education, Part B Vol. 7 Iss. 1 (2016) p. 60 - 75
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/patrick-duabenmire/2/