Assessing Environmental Awareness of Learners Near Dumpsite Area: Foundations for Dewey-Inspired Instructional Toolkit

Abstract

Environmental Education is not new to the Philippine educational system, however, environmental education has many problems such as, no stand alone subject, teacher lack of training, and most especially the gap between awareness and practice. Studies have shown that environmental education in the Philippines produces learners that are environmentally aware but lack environmental practice. Thus, this study assesses the current environmental awareness of learners in Sultan Mamarinta Panandigan Integrated School and Cabili village Elementary School which serves as the basis of developing an instructional toolkit. Guided by John Dewey's philosophy of experiential learning and Arne Naess's deep ecology, the study uses participatory activities like picture base survey and interview, storytelling, drawing, and nature walks and observation. These approaches allow children to express their ideas and feelings about nature in ways that are engaging. The findings showed that the current environmental awareness of learners from Sultan Mamarinta Panandigan Integrated School and Cabili village Elementary School are at the surface-level; they can identify basic environmental concepts but cannot articulate a deeper understanding on the environment's concept, relationship, problems and action. Thus, the instructional toolkit is designed to address this gap. The toolkit encourages learners to learn through experience and inquiry. The instructional toolkit is equipped with activities that are not just engaging but has guided reflection intended to cultivate critical thinking and encourage learners to act based on their knowledge. Furthermore, the study with the help of the Dewey-inspired instructional toolkit seeks to support teachers, parents, school and community in raising a generation of environmentally aware young people, whose awareness is far beyond surface level and is empowered to make a difference by taking action.