'Id-dar Maltija' : an environmental software package for Year 4

Abstract

The dissertation attempts to enrich primary education with environmental education through the use of Information and Communications Technology. This is achieved by producing an interdisciplinary software package, which focuses on different environmental issues. Id-Dar Maltija is a software package about the Maltese house because it is the environment the pupils know really well. It also focuses on the local natural environment. This package includes fifteen ICT activities accompanied with a set of guidelines. These guidelines are not intended to replace or to limit the teachers' role but to assist in making the teaching and learning experience more meaningful. The use of a unifying theme helps the pupils to place learning within a context. Furthermore, the use of a thematic approach helps in breaking down barriers between school subjects. Text, graphics, sounds, animations and videos form the main structure of this programme. A group of primary teachers evaluated the software package. In this evaluation, it was shown that this programme can be a very effective tool in integrating environmental education in different subjects. The use of technology can indeed enhance pupils' natural curiosity. Additional minor alterations would improve the content of the package, thus making it more suitable for implementation within the school curriculum.