An educational intervention maximizes children’s learning during a zoo or aquarium visit

Abstract

Children comprise many of the visitors to zoos every year, yet few studies have explored the impact of a zoo visit on children’s learning. This study employed a repeated measure design using data gathered from 500 questionnaires to investigate students’ knowledge, attitude, and behavior before and after visiting a zoo or aquarium in Ireland. A treatment group participated in a purposefully developed educational intervention, which included a hands-on activity, intended to enhance learning. Results indicate that learning does occur after a zoo or aquarium visit. However, students visiting the zoo and those who participated in the educational intervention showed the greatest increases in learning. A zoo visit has educational benefits for children, but to maximize this benefit an educational intervention should be offered.

Keywords:

• children
• educational intervention
• evaluation
• survey
• zoo setting

Acknowledgments

The authors would sincerely like to thank the staff at both Fota Wildlife Park and Dingle Aquarium for their advice, time, and support of this project. We would also like to acknowledge the Irish Federation of University Teachers as well as the School of BEES at UCC for their financial contribution toward this research. We are very grateful to the many students and teachers who participated in this research.