Examining the impacts of reforestation and bioremediation projects on high school environmental science students' feelings of biophilia and learning about environmental issues in Hawaii

Abstract

This action research study focused on the overall problem of how to promote biophilia in students while learning in experential, place-based settings. Surveys, relections, scientific terminology probes, anootated drawings, modeling and pre/post quizzes were used to access the results of the study. Results of the study indicate that some students were inspired to follow career paths in the natural sciences while others were further disconnected from nature. Some progress was made in learning vocabulary and facts about places visited. Further work is needed to promote deeper learning and feelings of biophilia for students prone to disconnecting from nature.