Comparison of Environmental Literacy Components Among Students and Faculty Members of Payame Noor University
Keywords:
Environmental Knowledge, Environmental Skill, Environmental Attitude, Sensitivity to Environmental Issues of Students, faculty members, Payame Noor University.Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to examine the status of environmental literacy components (environmental knowledge, environmental skills, environmental attitudes, and sensitivity to environmental issues) among faculty members and students at Payame Noor University.
Methods and Materials: This research is applied in terms of purpose, causal-comparative in nature, and conducted using a survey methodology. The statistical population includes all faculty members of the Department of Educational Sciences and e-learning students of Payame Noor University during the 2018–2019 academic year. A total of 372 students and 86 faculty members were selected through stratified random sampling. Following a review of the literature, a researcher-made environmental literacy questionnaire—whose validity and reliability were confirmed—was distributed among the sample.
Findings: Results of the independent t-test indicated a statistically significant difference between students and faculty in the components of environmental knowledge, environmental attitudes, and sensitivity to environmental issues. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of environmental skills. Additionally, the results of the Friedman test for ranking the components of environmental literacy showed that both groups—faculty and students—selected environmental knowledge as their top priority. Faculty members subsequently prioritized environmental attitudes and environmental behavior as their second and third choices, respectively. In contrast, students reversed these priorities. Furthermore, both groups ranked environmental sensitivity as the lowest priority.
Conclusion: Ultimately, it was recommended that, due to the importance of education in fostering environmental literacy, specialized environmental education courses emphasizing sensitivity to environmental issues be held for both students and faculty members.
Downloads
References
Bezi, A., Fakoori, H., Bayani, A. A., & Saemi, H. (2024). Design and Validation of an Environmental Education Curriculum Model for Higher Education Based on the "Aker" Approach [Research Article]. Iranian Journal of Educational Sociology, 7(1), 79-90. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.ijes.7.1.8
Cook, G. (2024). Environmental Education in Ecotourism Destinations: Visitor Experience on Tiritiri Matangi Island, New Zealand. https://doi.org/10.24135/7es.33
Huang, C.-C., Li, S.-P., Chan, Y.-K., Hsieh, M.-Y., & Lai, J.-C. (2023). Empirical Research on the Sustainable Development of Ecotourism With Environmental Education Concepts. Sustainability, 15(13), 10307. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310307
Jaime, M., Salazar, C., Alpizar, F., & Carlsson, F. (2023). Can school environmental education programs make children and parents more pro-environmental? Journal of Development Economics, 161, 103032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2022.103032
Jones, V. (2023). Environmental Education and the new curriculum for Wales: an evaluation of how a family of schools in a rural area used a Theory of Change approach. Environmental Education Research, 29(3), 392-409. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2022.2137470
Kose, S., Genser, K., & Erol, G. (2011). Investigation of Undergraduate students, Environmental attitudes. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education, 1(2), 1-12. https://www.academia.edu/71099869/Improvement_of_Students_Environmental_Literacy_by_Using_Integrated_Science_Teaching_Materials
Marcela, J., Salazar, C., Alpizar, F., & Carlsson, F. (2023). Can school environmental education programs make children and parents more pro-environmental? Journal of Development Economics, 161, 103032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2022.103032
Moftooh, S., Zakariaei, M., Entesar Foumani, G., & Davodi, R. (2022). Developing an Environmental Education Model for High School Students in the Education System with a Grounded Theory Approach: Qualitative Study. Journal of Health Promotion Management, 11(1), 102-117. http://jhpm.ir/browse.php?a_id=1429&sid=1&slc_lang=en
Obasi, K. K., & Osah, S. O. (2022). Curriculum Development Planning in Environmental Education for Developing Environmental Citizenship among Primary School Pupils in Rivers State. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Educational Studies, 3(2), 34-41. https://doi.org/10.21608/ihites.2021.107723.1080
Ojeda, A. (2022). Environmental Education and Ecotourists: Experience From the Yucatan Coast, Mexico. Research in Ecology, 4(3), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v4i3.4630
Paishani, N., Mirshah Jafari, S. E., Sharifian, F., & Farhadian, M. (2017). A Comparative Study of Environmental Education Goals and its Related Activities in Iran and Selected Countries in order to suggest activities for Iran. Journal of New Educational Approaches, 12(1), 25-. https://nea.ui.ac.ir/article_21747.html
Pourmasoom, B., Fayaz, I., & Bazargan, S. (2016). The Formation of Environmental Literacy Based on a Multidimensional and Multimedia Curricular Perspective. Quarterly Journal of Education, 33(1), 9-32. https://qjoe.ir/article-1-329-fa.html
Rahbari, M. (2014). Studying the Knowledge, Attitude and Environmental Skills of Islamic Azad University of Chalus University Students.
Saeidi, A., & Meiboudi, H. (2023). Challenges of evaluating environmental education in Iran's green schools and strategies to improve the current situation. Sustainable Development, 11(2), 107-117. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ali-Saeedi-10/publication/369235369_chalshhay_arzshyaby_amwzsh_mhytzyst_dr_mdars_sbz_ayran_w_rahkarhayy_bray_bhbwd_wdyt_mwjwd/links/641145a692cfd54f84fef17d/chalshhay-arzshyaby-amwzsh-mhytzyst-dr-mdars-sbz-ayran-w-rahkarhayy-bray-bhbwd-wdyt-mwjwd.pdf
Salehi, S., & Pazooki, Z. (2013). Environment in Higher Education: Assessment of Environmental Knowledge of Students. Journal of management system, 2(4), 199-221. https://eps.journals.umz.ac.ir/article_764.html
Samadi, M. (2022). Analysis of dimensions and components of environmental education in the document of fundamental transformation of education and its validation. Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 10(3), 29-41. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_8595.html?lang=en
Shir-Mohammadi, Y., Yazdan Panah, E., Takloo, F., & Yaghubi Pourfard, A. (2024). The Effect of Tourists' Experiences on Environmental Education through the Resonance of Ecotourism Destination Branding. Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 16(39), 45-62. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_10327.html
Shivakumar, G. S., & Vandevappa, H. V. (2011). Environmental attitude among the secondary school student. Indian streams research Journal, 1(4), 1-5. https://oldisrj.lbp.world/UploadedBData/599.pdf
Shobeiri, M., Ghaemi, A., & Ghaemi, P. (2013). Evaluating Trend of Environmental Education in The five-year Development Plans and Strategies for Implementing Environmental Education. The Journal of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 1(4), 29-40. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_895.html
Strapasson, A., Ferreira, M., Cruz-Cano, D., Woods, J., Marco Paulo do Nascimento Maia, S., & Olavo Leopoldino da Silva, F. (2022). The Use of System Dynamics for Energy and Environmental Education. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-021-00309-3
van de Wetering, J., Leijten, P., Spitzer, J., & Thomaes, S. (2022). Does environmental education benefit environmental outcomes in children and adolescents? A meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 81, 101782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101782
Vatan Khah, M. A., Ali Nia, M., Nik Nejad, H., Aftabi, Z., & Hasan Biki, F. (2023). The Impact of Environmental Education on Students' Awareness and Attitudes Toward the Environment. 1st International Conference on Outstanding Teachers and Leading Schools in the Third Millennium, Bushehr.
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Marjan Masoomifard, Ziba Nouri, Leila Siami, Abbas Shayestehfar (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
