The effect of an interdisciplinary sustainability education program on the sustainability consciousness and knowledge of 10th-grade students

Halil ibrahim Kolan; Şükran Tok

doi:10.29329/journalted.57

Authors

Halil ibrahim Kolan Izmir Democracy University, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3491-7143
Şükran Tok İzmir Demokrasi University, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8387-615X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29329/journalted.57

Keywords:

Environmental problems, Biodiversity, Interdisciplinary, Sustainability education, Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Education is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the UN 2030 Agenda. Sustainability is a multidisciplinary field. Therefore, this study developed an interdisciplinary education curriculum linking sustainability with Geography and Biology. The goal was to assess the impact of this curriculum on the sustainability awareness and knowledge of 10th-grade students. The research used a single-group pre-test and post-test experimental design. The curriculum focused on Sustainable Development, with sub-themes such as ecosystems, environmental issues, and biodiversity. The study involved 21 tenth-grade students from Aydın. The five-week program was conducted during the 2023-2024 academic year. The Sustainability Consciousness Scale and the Sustainable Development Knowledge Test were given before and after the intervention. Results from the related groups t-test showed a significant increase in scores from pre-test to post-test, indicating that the curriculum effectively enhanced students' awareness and understanding of sustainability.

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