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Abstract
Environmental education can deliver benefits to individuals, society and the environment, but few studies have asked practitioners or participants what they feel these benefits are. This research compares the perspectives of practitioners and participants in environmental education projects, using questionnaires, focus groups and participant observation. Practitioners and participants listed a large number of outcomes, with increasing knowledge about the environment mentioned most frequently. For participants, this was often in relation to gaining new skills. Social outcomes, such as making new friends, were more prominent in participant than practitioner responses. Practitioners did not spontaneously mention any negative outcomes of environmental education, and few were suggested with prompting. Participants suggested more negative outcomes than practitioners, notably damage to the environment. The differing views suggest a need for greater discussion between practitioners and their participants.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank all those who took part in this research, especially those practitioners who gave comments on drafts of this paper. Thanks are also due to three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. The author also wishes to thank the creator of www.Wordle.net for making this online software freely available. The work was financially supported by the Big Lottery Fund.