Project-Based Learning: An Approach to Promote Energy Literacy Among Secondary School Students

  • PDF / 399,639 Bytes
  • 9 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
  • 57 Downloads / 173 Views

DOWNLOAD

REPORT


REGULAR ARTICLE

Project-Based Learning: An Approach to Promote Energy Literacy Among Secondary School Students Mageswary Karpudewan1 • Jamunah Ponniah1 • Ahmad Nurulazam Md. Zain1

Published online: 25 August 2015  De La Salle University 2015

Abstract Globalization, rapid industrial development, and tremendous population growth have significantly increased the demand for energy. Sustaining the energy supply requires that society be energy literate. Existing studies on secondary school students’ energy literacy suggest that effective teaching approaches can enhance energy literacy. This quasi-experimental study was designed to test the null hypotheses that project-based energy learning does not enhance knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and beliefs related to energy. For this purpose, two classes from a school were assigned to experimental and control groups. Following the intervention, an ANCOVA analysis with the pretest results as the covariate showed statistically significant differences in the four aspects that were researched. Additionally, interviews with randomly selected students from the experimental and control groups further support the findings. Implications of the findings are discussed. Keywords Energy literacy  Project-based learning  Secondary school students

& Mageswary Karpudewan [email protected]; [email protected]

1

Introduction The global demand for energy has risen enormously in the last 150 years and is expected to continue to rise by at least 50 % by 2030 due to rapid industrial development and population growth which are expected to grow by 25 % from the year 2010 to 2040 (Exxon Mobile Corporation 2015). This enormous increase in the demand for energy subsequently leads to the shortage of fossil fuels and increased pressure on identifying and implementing ways to save energy. Energy efficient buildings, light bulbs, and fuel efficiency vehicles are some of the energy efficiency measures that have been suggested following the claim that changing the attitude of people towards energy consumption would bring about significant reduction in energy consumption. This is because residential consumption of energy contributes to 25 % of the total energy used after industrial consumption (42 %) (EIA 2014). Thus, it is imperative to change the lifestyles of people to reduce energy consumption. Other measures include promoting energy literacy among the general public following the call to have an ‘energy literate’ generation to foster a ‘shift’ in young peoples’ attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, and knowledge towards energy so that these people would be able to make informed future energy choices (DeWaters and Powers 2013). This is because an energy-literate public will be better equipped to make thoughtful, responsible energy-related decisions, choices, and actions.

Jamunah Ponniah [email protected]

Background

Ahmad Nurulazam Md. Zain [email protected]

Energy Literacy

School of Educational Studies, University Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia

Various studies have shown that it is im