The Development of an Instrument for Evaluating World Wildlife Fund's Window on the Wild Biodiversity Education Program
File(s)
Date
1996-08Author
Fleming, AnneMarie VanDam
Publisher
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, College of Natural Resources
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In 1993, World Wildlife Fund - U.S. initiated a new biodiversity education program
called Windows on the Wild (WOW!). The overall goal of Windows on the Wild is to use
biodiversity as an organizing theme to help increase the environmental literacy of middle
school students, link formal and nonformal educational institutions, and enhance biodiversity
training for educators. World Wildlife Fund contracted with the Wisconsin Center for
Environmental Education at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point to perform an
evaluation of student performance with Windows on the Wild. More specifically, the purpose
of this evaluation is to determine whether or not Windows on the Wild is effective in improving
students' knowledge of and attitudes towards biodiversity and related issues. This study
focused on the development of the instrument that would later be used in a pre-test/post-test
design with students who participate in Windows on the Wild.
In May 1995, three pilot tests were conducted with 18 classrooms (477 students).
The results were analyzed by examining frequencies, reliability and corrected item correlation
(using Cronbach's alpha), difficulty, and discrimination index. These analyses were used to
modify the items and create another pilot which was conducted in December, 1995 with 10
classrooms (264 students). Using the combined results of both stages of piloting, a single
evaluation instrument was created during April, 1996. This instrument contains 9 introductory
questions, 39 Likert items (statements for measuring attitudes), and 32 multiple choice items.
The instrument is designed to be conducted within a single classroom period and will yield
quantitative results. Plans have been made to implement the instrument in conjunction with
the piloting of materials from the Windows on the Wild curriculum.