Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item A study to address the effectiveness of environmental economic education programs conducted by PERC (Political Economy Research Center)(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1998) Nicholson, Nancy; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinEnvironmental education is a topic that has received increased attention over the last three decades. Its goal is to develop citizens, informed of environmental issues, who are willing to take action in order to promote healthy, environmentally safe actions and behavior. A Bozeman based organization named Political Economy Research Center, (PERC), has added the theory of economics to the environmental philosophy. Jane Shaw, Senior Associate at PERC and author of Facts Not Fears: A Parent's Guide to Teaching Children About the Environment, supports the partnership of economics and environmentalism in this quote: Economics teaches us about human behavior--the "rest of the story." It sheds light on why we have pollution problems and why some proposed solutions won't work. (1996) PERC has been conducting teacher inservice seminars over the last few years in an attempt to spread the environmental economic word. The study was conducted to measure the outcomes of these seminars. The major purpose of this study was to determine how attendance of PERC environmental economic programs affected educators' attitudes toward environmental and economic issues. The majority of the respondents worked in a secondary (grades 9-12) school and had attended 1-2 days of PERC training. Returned surveys were grouped by the amount of environmental economic training the respondent had received. Five categories developed-1 hour, 1-4 hours, 1 day, 1-2 days, more than 2 days, and summer conference 1997 participants. (It should be noted that a return rate of 76% was received from this last group.) Overall, the respondents responded positively to the theories of environmental economics. Ninety-nine percent of the respondents felt that environmental economics should be integrated into the class they teach. Responses to another question indicated that PERC programs were successful in supplying specific materials to help teachers integrate the concepts of environmental economics into their classroom for 85% (137 of the 167 respondents) of the teachers. The respondents that felt inadequately prepared were the ones who had only attended 1 hour or 1-4 hours of training. The participants that had attended more training felt better prepared. When respondents were specifically asked about the use of "market solutions" to solve environmental problems the majority (59%) of the respondents agreed with the statement, while 40% strongly agreed. It should also be noted that 100% of those who participated in the 1997 summer conference agreed with the "market solutions" statement. Participants were also asked if they were successful in integrating environmental economic concepts into their classes. The survey indicated that the participants who received the most training were the most successful in integrating environmental economics into their curriculum. Only 14% of the 1 hour participants have been successful in integrating while 48% of those with 1-4 hours of training have integrated the concepts of environmental economics. This percentage increases as the training increases. The remainder of the groups, 1-2 days, >2 days, and 1997 Summer conference expressed a successful integration percentage of 71 %,83%, and 81% respectfully. The overall percentage of successful environmental economic integration is 67%. In conclusion, PERC programs were well received. Teachers indicated an appreciation for the alternative way to evaluate environmental concerns and look forward to further information on environmental economics.Item Informal youth educational programming and its effect on environmental stewardship and formal science classroom performance(Montana State University - Bozeman, Graduate School, 2014) McClellan, Matthew Clinton; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Peggy Taylor.In this investigation, 4-H Outdoor Skills Programming was used to determine its effect on participants' formal science classroom performance, development of life skills, leisure activity choices, and whether this type of adventure programming can increase a participants' level of environmental awareness. Parent and participant surveys, interviews, and direct observation techniques were used to gather data during intervention sessions with two 4-H project clubs in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. Results indicated that these programs do accomplish life skill development and improvement in environmental awareness, but no correlation was found to indicate improvement in the formal classroom or in a decrease in reliance on electronic devices for entertainment.Item Historical uses of natural resources : transference of knowledge in the Crow Indian environment(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 1999) Yarlott, David Edward, Jr.This study is about the historical uses of natural resources by the Crow Indians; how they knew what was useful to their survival and how that knowledge was transferred to the next generation. The author tried to identify those resources which were historically used in order to preserve the information as well as resources still in use so they could be protected. He concludes that though it's usually unwise to return to past ways of life, it is possible to learn from the past. Preservation, protection, and perpetuation of the old practices should be a priority. Documenting this information makes it available to others and ensures that the knowledge won't be lost.Item An examination of pollution prevention in Montana secondary agricultural education laboratories(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2000) Bass, Thomas MartinItem The harmony seekers : ecologically cultivating land and learning(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 1999) Boyle, Janet AmundsenItem Adult awareness of environmental degradation caused by technology : a component of Technological, Environmental and Agricultural Literacy (TEAL)(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 1997) Hester, Gregory AlanItem Developing a sense-of-place in middle school students through service learning : a case study(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2001) Ingraham, Patricia JayItem We are still talking the wrong language to 'tv babies'(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2008) Pieczenik, Sharon Rovner; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Walter Metz.In order to reach a young generation diagnosed with "nature deficit disorder" and flooded with mass media messages from a myriad of channels, non governmental organizations (NGOs) and environmental educators need to embrace musical videos as a tool for conservation education. Rare Conservation is one NGO that utilizes music videos as an innovative technique to reach a younger audience in order to foster a sense of pride and concern for the environment in which they live. In 1992, RARE Conservation produced a music video for the song "Quincy Rap" by Tony (The Obeah Man) McKay. The "Quincy Rap" music video was one environmental tool in the overall campaign to save the endangered and endemic Bahamian Parrot. By analyzing the "Quincy Rap" music video, a guideline for creating persuasive music videos can be constructed. In order to analyze a music video, like "Quincy Rap," it is best to take a multi-perspective approach, first dissecting the visual elements of the video then looking at the audio elements and then concluding with how the visual and audio elements intersect. By juxtaposing music video techniques with those found in other forms of video production, certain persuasive elements of music video production can be highlighted. This unique rhetoric of music videos can be utilized as persuasive environmental education.Item Will the deer and the antelope continue to play? : a critical evaluation of the a home on the range curriculum(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2005) Duren, Keith Thomas; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Martin J. Frick.The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the A Home on the Range curriculum in two key areas. These areas included increasing the student's knowledge in basic range science, and changing the student's attitudes and beliefs regarding rangelands. The researcher was also interested in teacher efficacy as it relates to range science. The A Home on the Range curriculum was implemented in two class rooms. Data was gathered using a pre/post-test. The pre/post-test was also administered to two classrooms. The second group was used as a control group. The data indicated that the A Home on the Range curriculum is an effective method of increasing the student's knowledge, as well as changing the student's attitudes and beliefs.