Connecting technologies and nature: Impact and opportunities for digital media use in the context of at-home family environmental learning

Figures & data

Table 1. Sample of prompts asked in parts 2 and 4.

Part(s)	Prompt
2, 4	Describe this learning moment for us. What did you do or talk about? How were you or others involved in the activity?
2, 4	In a sentence or two, tell us how this learning moment came about. How did you or your child decide what to do?
4	What was the resource you engaged with? If it has a link, please share the link with us here.
4	Tell us about how you chose this specific resource. Why did you choose a resource that involved or did not involve technology?

Table 2. Highest-frequency resources used to support environmental learning moments during the diary study.

Resource	%*	Description	Illustrative example excerpts
Conversation	46.5%	Families engage in conversation together, either to debrief a specific experience (e.g., watching a video or reading an article), or to share observations, speculations, or knowledge.	We discussed all the different kinds of renewable energy and why they are better for our environment than fossil fuels. We also talked about the new technologies (some I didn’t know about like human heated buildings and energy making sidewalks).
YouTube video	31.4%	Families watch one or more YouTube videos together about topics ranging from global warming to information about deer. Videos are viewed on mobile phones, computers, tablets, or smart TVs.	We watched two short videos on YouTube that explained global warming/climate change in a way that is appropriate for kids. The videos we watched were made by “crash course kids” and “hiho” YouTube channels… When we finished the videos, we sat and talked for a few minutes about what we’d heard. We all tried to think of ideas of ways we could reduce our carbon footprint.
Webpage	18.9%	Families access, read, and engage with webpages (including online articles) to learn about various topics. Webpages are viewed on mobile phones, tablets, or computers.	Since we live near the ocean and my son loves animals, we read about how pollution affects sea life. I read some articles to him while he looked over my shoulder and we talked about what we had read.
Nature	18.4%	Families interact with various elements of nature while outdoors.	We were looking at the first signs of spring! So excited that it is warming up and we can see flowers again. I was looking at the new blossoms with all of my kids and we were noticing how much earlier spring comes to the south compared to New England.
TV show/movie	10.3%	Families watch primarily entertainment-based TV shows or movies, mostly through streaming platforms.	My son and I watched the Bear Grylls show “You vs Wild: Animals on the loose.” We enjoyed discussing the options for Bear to rescue each animal and to check the power reserve.
Book	6.5%	Families read physical books together (either owned by the families or borrowed from the library or school).	The kids heard an owl on our walk tonight and our 7-year-old happened to have brought home a library book called Owls. So we read the book together.

*Number of learning moments divided by 185, the total number of learning moments.