Positively Influencing Understanding and Attitudes of Water Use in Colorado Through Raising Trout in the Classroom

Abstract

This Action Research Project studies the impact of a hands-on unit, which teaches about freshwater ecosystems through raising trout in the classroom, on high school students’ understanding of, and attitudes toward real world issues related to nature, conservation, and natural resource management. The project took place in a high school environmental science class at Wellington Middle High School, in Wellington, Colorado. Twenty-two students in grades 11 and 12 participated in the study. The project occurred over a 4-week period. Students filled out pre- and post-surveys with Likert Scale responses. Ten students also participated in individual pre- and post-interviews. Field observations of examples of engagement were made by me, the instructor. The results of my investigation showed that there was a positive effect on students’ attitude and understanding of real-world issues relating to stream ecology, water quality, nature and conservation, and natural resource management through raising trout in the classroom. When comparing pre- and post-interviews, students moved from general descriptions of environmental issues, such as littering, to more complex answers involving population growth, water use, and human impacts. Students demonstrated increased understanding of identifying local species and ecological conditions those species indicate. Attitudes toward nature and conservation remained consistently positive. Students felt they had a better understanding of nature and conservation. I also observed that experiential, hands-on activities increased students’ engagement and attitudes toward topics covered in this unit. These hands-on, experiential learning activities helped to reinforce key concepts covered throughout the Trout in the Classroom unit. In conclusion, teaching freshwater ecosystems through raising trout in the classroom was an effective strategy for increasing students’ understanding of, and attitudes toward real-world issues related to nature, conservation, and natural resource management.