Development of an Integrated Learning Unit for Enhancing Awareness and Conceptual Understanding of Global Warming in Secondary Students

By Chanintorn Wannawichitra, Pintip Ruenwongsa, Watcharee Ketpichainarong and Piyachat Jittam.

Published by The Learning Collection

Format Price
Article: Print $US10.00
Article: Electronic $US5.00

Global warming is an important issue that everyone should be aware of because of its impact on daily life. A true understanding of global warming should focus both its effects and the causes. A preliminary survey revealed that most students lacked knowledge about global warming on four basic topics: definition, causes, effects, and awareness. We thus developed an integrated learning unit on global warming for secondary students to build up their conceptual understanding and awareness. The learning activity was composed of three components for students, i.e., being drawn into the content knowledge through interactive multimedia, participating in the drama activity, and applying the knowledge learned in creating science projects of their own design. The learning unit was implemented separately to two classes of secondary students, i.e., grade 9 and grade 11. During the intervention the students worked collaboratively in groups of six to eight, using worksheets for brainstorming on the phenomenon and mechanism of global warming. The students’ projects also indicated their ability to use the knowledge learned in devising various means to minimize global warming. The results from pretest/posttest, students’ projects, students’ reflection and interviews revealed that they acquired more knowledge, awareness and concern on global warming. This research study provided a useful guide for further adaptation of the integrated learning unit for an effective learning outcome.

Keywords: Drama, Global Warming, Integrate Learning Unit, Secondary Students

The International Journal of Learning, Volume 17, Issue 11, pp.399-416. Article: Print (Spiral Bound). Article: Electronic (PDF File; 695.485KB).

Chanintorn Wannawichitra

Ph.D. student, Institute for Innovative Learning, Mahidol university (Ph.D. student), Institute for Innovative Learning, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

I am studying Ph.D. in science and technology education field at Institute for Innovative Learning, Mahidol University, Thailand. My main topic research is to find out the innovative style for students and museum visitors to learn in everyday life phenomenon such as global warming and to help them applying the knowledge learned in designing various ways to reduce the global warming. In parallel, I work in office of the Public Awareness of Science, National Science Museum, Ministry of Science and Technology, THAILAND. My duties are research and development science communication activities, setting up learning activities, and information service.

Pintip Ruenwongsa

Deputy Director, Institute for Innovation and Development of Learning Process, Institute for Innovative Learning, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Dr. Pintip Ruenwongsa is a lecturer of the Institute for Innovative Learning, Mahidol University.

Dr. Watcharee Ketpichainarong

Teacher/Lecturer, Institute for Innovative Learning, Institute for Innovative Learning, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

I work with my professors to develop hand-on experiment as well as to organize workshop as a trainer for both students and teachers in Thailand. I’m familiar with the use of inquiry approach in classroom. My main interest is to explore how to incorporate various effective teaching strategies into science contents.

Piyachat Jittam

Lecturer, Institute for Innovative Learning, Institute for Innovative Learning, Mahidol University, Nakhonpathom, Thailand

Piyachat Jittam obtained her Ph.D. (Science and Technology Education) from the Institute for Innovative Learning, Mahidol University in 2008. During her Ph.D. study, she was supported by a scholarship under the program for the Promotion of Science and Mathematics Talented Teachers of the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology. She was a supporting staff at the Department of Biochemistry, Factulty of Science. Now she is a lecturer in the Institute at Mahidol University.

Reviews:

There are currently no reviews of this product.

Write a Review