Wolves’ Conservation through Educational Workshops: Which Method Works Best?

Vesna Oražem, Iztok Tomažič, Ivan Kos, Dolores Nagode and Christoph Randler
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Vesna Oražem: Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Iztok Tomažič: Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ivan Kos: Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dolores Nagode: Faculty of Education; University of Ljubljana, Kardeljeva ploščad 16, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Christoph Randler: Department of Biology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 24, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: (1) Background: Conservation biology education is an important societal goal, targeting the worldwide promotion of biodiversity conservation. When learning about animals, direct experience poses an ideal opportunity to influence the participants’ attitudes and knowledge. However, in the case of large carnivores, direct experiences are scarcely possible, except at local zoos. School teaching should therefore rely on preserved materials, which are still originals. (2) Methods: Here, we investigated how students’ attitudes and knowledge regarding wolves can be improved in three different teaching contexts: (a) through conventional lectures, (b) through lectures combined with hands-on activities in the real classroom setting, and (c) through lectures with hands-on activities at the university. Students from general and vocational (veterinary) upper secondary school participated in the study. Attitudes and knowledge were tested before and after the teaching. (3) Results: Students displayed positive attitudes toward wolves and their prior knowledge had the highest influence on attitude ratings. Knowledge about wolves improved during teaching regardless of the teaching approach. The highest influence on attitudes and knowledge was observed in the university setting. (4) Conclusion: The university setting evidently produces the strongest effect so it is a recommended approach when designing conservational topics.

Keywords: achievement; attitude; conservation; educational workshops; teaching methods; wolves (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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