수목원 지속가능발전교육프로그램이 초등학생들의 생물자원에 대한 태도와 실천의지에 미치는 효과

Abstract

This study examined the effects of a forest-based Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) program developed and implemented at a national arboretum on upper-grade elementary school students’ attitudes and behavioral intentions toward biological resources. The six-session program was designed in alignment with the 2022 revised Korean national curriculum and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 12, 13, and 15), focusing on biodiversity, sustainability, and responsible resource use. A total of 37 fifth- and sixth-grade students participated in the program, and data were collected through pre- and post-surveys as well as content analysis of student activity sheets. Overall, students showed statistically significant improvements in both attitudes and behavioral intentions. Female students demonstrated greater gains than male students in both domains. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between students’ attitudes and their behavioral intentions. Based on these results, the study highlights the need for differentiated ESD programs that reflect learners’ background characteristics such as grade level and gender. Limitations due to the one-group pre-post design are acknowledged, and follow-up research involving broader samples and long-term tracking is recommended.