Importance of environmental education and knowledge comparing grades 9-12 in Monteverde, Costa Rica and Middleton, Wisconsin, USA, May 2010

Alternative Title

Importancia de la educación ambiental y comparando el conocimiento de los grados 9-12 en Monteverde, Costa Rica y Middleton, Wisconsin, Estados Unidos

Creator

Katie Wipfli

Files

Publication Date

May 2010

Abstract

Environmental education is not always a part of school curricula, particularly in the developing world, where population growth and environmental degradation are increase most rapidly. This study takes place in Monteverde, Costa Rica where three local schools with varying levels of environmental education were surveyed. I compared them to a high school in Middleton, Wisconsin to see how Costa Rica and the United States compare. A 20-question survey was used to measure environmental knowledge of students at each school. I found that environmental education is important. Environmental education was an important determinant of environmental awareness and knowledge. Environmental Education, as a curricular focus, boosted even poor to middle class Costa Ricans to levels beyond average Costa Rican students from the same community; to a level nearly equal to affluent expatriates and students in the suburban United States.

Resumen

La educación ambiental no es siempre parte de los planes de estudios, especialmente en el mundo de desarrollo, donde hay mucho crecimiento poblacional y degradación ambiental. Este estudio se realizó en Monteverde Costa Rica donde hay tres escuelas locales con niveles diferentes. Comparé las escuelas en Costa Rica a un colegio en Middleton Wisconsin. Usé una encuesta de 20 preguntas para calcular el conocimiento ambiental entre los estudiantes de las escuelas. Encontré que la educación ambiental es muy importante. La educación ambiental es un determinante importante para el conocimiento ambiental. La educación ambiental, como un plan de estudios, levantó las clases pobres costarricense a un nivel más alto del promedio de los estudiantes costarricenses de la misma comunidad; a un nivel de estudiantes en los Estados Unidos.

Keywords

Environmental education, CIEE Spring 2010

Palabras claves

Educación ambiental, CIEE Primavera 2010

Extent

20 pages

Geographic Location

Cerro Plano (Puntarenas, Costa Rica); Middleton (Wis.)

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute

Language

English; Spanish

Media Type

Articles

Format

Digital Only

Identifier

M39-00578

Type

Book

Recommended Citation

Wipfli, Katie, "Importance of environmental education and knowledge comparing grades 9-12 in Monteverde, Costa Rica and Middleton, Wisconsin, USA, May 2010" (2010). Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]. 360.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/360