This paper explores the idea of informal science education in scientific field laboratory (The Science Field Centre). The experimental group of pupils (N = 153) was experienced with approximately 5-day lasting field trips and experiments in the Field Centre in Slovakia. After finishing the course, two different research methods were used to discover their interest and ideas toward science. Pupils from the experimental group showed significant differences from those that did not experience education in the Field Centre (control group, N = 365). In comparison to the control group, pupils of the experimental group highly preferred book titles that were related to their program in the Field Centre. There were differences between the drawings of ideal school environment from both pupils groups. In the drawings of the experimental group, we found significantly more items connected with the educational environment of the Field Centre (e.g. laboratory equipment, live animals). We suppose field science education would be one of the most effective ways to increase interest of pupils to study science and to invaluable intrinsic motivation at the expense extrinsic motivation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Backett-Milburn K., McKie L. (1999). A critical appraisal of the draw and write technique. Health Education Research 14: 387–398
Bertrand Y. (1993). Théories contemporaines de l’éducation. Agence d’ARC, Otawa
Criswell S. G. (1986). Nature trough Science and Art. TAB Books, Hanover
Czenner Z. (1986). The reliability of information gained by a child’s drawings. Acta Medicinae Legalis at Socialis 36: 199–207
Dewey J. (1938). Experience and Education. The Kappa Delta Pi Lecture Series, Collier Books, New York
Dillon J., Rickinson M., Teamey K., Morris M., Choi M. Y., Sanders D., Benefield P. (2006). The value of outdoor learning: evidence from research in the UK and elsewhere. School Science Review 87: 107–111
Falk J. H. (1983). Field trips: A look at environmental effects on learning. Journal of Biological Education 17: 137–142
Falk J. H., Dierking L. D. (2000). Learning from Museums. Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press
Farenga S. J., Joyce B. A. (1999). Intentions to young students to enrol in science courses in the future: an examination of gender differences. Science Education 83: 55–75
Fernández-Manzanal R., Rodríguez-Barreiro L. M., Casal-Jiménez M. (1999). Relationship between ecology fieldwork and student attitudes toward environmental protection. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 36: 431–453
Freedman M. P. (1997). Relationship among laboratory instruction, attitude toward science, and achievement in science knowledge. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 34: 343–357
Gibson H., Chase C. (2002). Longitudinal impact of an inquiry-based science program on middle school students’ attitudes toward science. Science Education 86: 693–705
Greenfield T. A. (1995). Sex differences in science museum exhibit attraction. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 32: 925–938
Greenfield T. A. (1997). Gender and grade level differences in science interest and participation. Science Education 81: 259–276
Hidi S. (2000). An interest researcher’s perspective: The effects of extrinsic and intrinsic factors on motivation. In: Sansone C., Harackiewicz J. M. (Eds) Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation: The Search for Optimal Motivation and Performance. Academic Press, San Diego CA, pp. 309–339
Hidi S., Berndorff D. (1998). Situational interest and learning. In: Hoffmann L., Krapp A., Renninger K. A., Baumert J. (Eds) Interest and Learning. University of Kiel, Kiel Germany, pp. 74–90
Hofstein A., Rosenfeld S. (1996) Bridging the gap between formal and informal science learning. Studies in Science Education 28: 87–112
Johnstone A. H., Al-Naeme F. F. (1995). Filling a curriculum gap in chemistry. International Journal of Science Education 17: 219–232
Jones M. G., Howe A., Rua M. J. (2000). Gender differences in students experiences, interests, and attitudes toward science and scientists. Science Education 84: 180–192
Kidd A. H., Kidd R. M. (1995). Children’s drawings and attachment to pets. Psychological Reports 77: 235–241
Knox K. L., Moynihan J. A., Markowitz D. G. (2003). Evaluation of short-term impact of a high school summer science program on students’ perceived knowledge and skills. Journal of Science Education and Technology 12: 471–478
Leeming F. C., Dwyer W. O., Porter B., Cobern M. (1993). Outcome research in environmental education: a critical review. Journal of Environmental Education 24: 8–21
Lisowski M., Disinger J. F. (1991). The effect of field-based instruction on student understandings of ecological concepts. Journal of Environmental Education 23: 19–23
Markowitz D. G. (2004). Evaluation of the long-term impact of a university high school summer science program on students’ interest and perceived abilities in science. Journal of Science Education and Technology 13: 395–407
Millett K., Lock R. (1992). GCSE student’s attitudes towards animal use: some implications for biology/science teacher. Journal of Biological Education 26: 204–206
Orion N., Hofstein A. (1994). Factors that influence learning during a scientific field trip in a natural environment. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 31: 1097–1119
Piaget J., Inhelder B. (1993). La Psychologie de l’enfant. Presses Universitaires de France, Paris
Pridmore P., Bendelow G. (1995). Images of health: exploring beliefs of children using the ‘draw-and-write’ technique. Health Education Journal 54: 473–488
Renninger K. A. (2000). Individual interest and its implications for understanding intrinsic motivation. In: Sansone C., Harackiewicz J. M. (Eds). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation: The Search for Optimal Motivation and Performance. Academic Press, San Diego CA, pp. 373–404
Salmi H. (1993). Science centre education: motivation and learning in informal education (Ph.D. thesis), University of Helsinky, Finland
Salmi H. (2003). Science centres as learning laboratories: experiences of Heureka, the Finish Science Centre. International Journal of Technology Management 25: 460–476
Skinner G. J. (1988). The use of ants in field work. Journal of Biological Education 22: 99–106
Stronk D. R. (1974). The sociological backgrounds of scientifically talented secondary school students throughout the state of Texas. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 11: 31–37
Tunnicliffe S. D., Reiss M. J. (1999). Student’s understandings about animal skeletons. International Journal of Science Education 21: 1187–1200
Tversky A., Kahneman D. (1974). Judgment under uncertainty: Heuristics and biases. Science 185: 1224–1131
Žoldošová, K. and Prokop, P. (2006). Analysis of motivational orientations in science education. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education (available online: http://www.springerlink.com/(c2umclz3ybpjnm554g1ntxje) <http://www.springerlink.com/%28c2umclz3ybpjnm554g1ntxje%29>)
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Lady Dr. Sue Dale Tunnicliffe, Professor Larry Yore and an anonymous referee for their helpful comments on the earlier drafts of the manuscript. Miriam Grady kindly improved English of the manuscript. Also, we thank Hannu Salmi for kindly offering his PhD thesis.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zoldosova, K., Prokop, P. Education in the Field Influences Children’s Ideas and Interest toward Science. J Sci Educ Technol 15, 304–313 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-006-9017-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-006-9017-3