PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AND PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ KNOWLEDGE OF IBERIAN NATIVE AND AFRICAN SAVANNAH MAMMALS

TitlePRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AND PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ KNOWLEDGE OF IBERIAN NATIVE AND AFRICAN SAVANNAH MAMMALS
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsAlmeida, A, García Fernández, B, Stretch-Ribeiro, O
JournalJournal of Baltic Science Education
Volume18
Issue6
Start Page833-847
PaginationContinuous
Date PublishedDecember/2019
Type of ArticleOriginal article
ISSN1648-3898
Other NumbersE-ISSN 2538-7138
Keywordsnative fauna, pre-service teachers, primary school children, savannah mammals
Abstract

The present research compared the knowledge of primary school children and pre-service primary teachers about various native mammals of the Iberian Peninsula (IP-Portugal and Spain) and the African Savannah. For this purpose, a questionnaire was administered to 420 children and 215 pre-service teachers from these countries asking for the identification of animals through photos and whether they had native status on the IP. The pre-service teachers performed better than the children. The Savannah animals were better identified than those of the IP. The results were similar in both countries, even though the Spanish performed a little better. Children from both countries had more difficulty identifying the native status of the animals, with a high percentage of them thinking that Savannah animals lived in the wild on the IP. This error was less frequent among the pre-service teachers but, even so, with a percentage for certain animals that can be considered of concern. This issue is absent in the training courses in both countries, a conclusion based on an analysis of the syllabuses. The importance of improving knowledge of native fauna though formal and informal learning is discussed as a way to promote a conservationist attitude with direct repercussions on the recognition of the importance of local or regional biodiversity.

URLhttp://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1576224962.pdf
DOI10.33225/jbse/19.18.833
Refereed DesignationRefereed
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