An evaluation of a one-day activity at Dar il-lunzjata science centre

Abstract

The Education Division has always striven to provide good scientific experiences to students in Malta and Gozo. Since February 1998 primary school pupils have been having the opportunity of spending a day at Dar il-Lunzjata Science Centre in Kercem. This dissertation evaluates the activities performed at the Science Centre to find out how these activities affect pupils' knowledge about and attitudes towards the environment. Questionnaires were set up to find out pupils' knowledge about and attitudes towards the environment before and after their visit to the Science Centre. Interviews were also held with the Head of the Science Centre, the peripatetic teacher running the fieldwork activities at the Centre, primary school teachers present at the Science Centre with their class during the one day visit, participating students and parents whose children attended the Science Centre. Results show that through the fieldwork activities performed at the Centre pupils acquire knowledge and positive attitudes towards the environment. However, this program should not be seen as a beginning and an end in itself but as an initiative to be developed further and as part of a whole : framework of initiatives and activities. This study reveals the importance of the continuation and development of the program offered at Dar il-Lunzjata Science Centre in order to ensure that future generations will have knowledge about and positive attitudes towards the environment.