The Field Guide audio series: mobile learning using place-based and inquiry-led approaches to promote adolescents’ interest in nature

Abstract

Facilitating the exploration of adolescents’ questions regarding nature is vital. Research suggests that their questions are important as they can reveal their interests in particular subjects and further guide their learning process. We designed a quasi-experimental study for 68 adolescents in an outdoor and indoor setting to assess the efficacy of the audio-learning materials in promoting their interest in learning more about nature. Although we did not find differences between the two settings, results show that the audio-learning materials impacted questioning by guiding participants’ focus on specific topics and promoting perceived learning. Participants also reported high satisfaction with the audio-learning materials and willingness to hear more and/or recommend them to others. As a result, we discuss the motivational role of audio-learning materials in promoting adolescents’ exploration of nature and interest in learning about nature-rich environments. We believe our study has educational and design-related implications. It problematizes how audio-learning materials may bring adolescents closer to nature and tests the potential of mobile technology as a medium. Our study also builds on existing educational strategies by further adding the importance of valuing the concept of place and its ecological and social dimensions to enhance adolescents’ contact with and interest in nature.

Keywords:

• Inquiry-based learning
• adolescent-led learning technologies
• adolescents interests
• exposure to nature
• nature conservation
• environmental education
• outdoor learning
• place-based learning
• nature-rich environments
• audio learning materials

Acknowledgments

We want to thank all the Scouts who participated in this study and their respective heads. Here we acknowledge the participants from the groups of Santa Bárbara (number 630), Agualva (number 154), Biscoitos (number 793), Base Aérea das Lajes (number 111), Terra Chã (number 590), and São Sebastião (number 652). As well as participants and tutors from the youth camps ‘Geokids’, ‘O Gu e a Tita’, and ‘Olhar Poente’. The data collection procedure wouldn’t be possible without the help of the research volunteers: Raquel Lopes Rodrigues, Ana Luísa Picanço, Enésima Pereira, Antónia Requena, Cristiana Araújo Amorim, and Miguel Ángel Gómez Molinero. We acknowledge the collaboration of the local radio station ‘Antena 1 Açores’ in the production of the Field Guide audio series, in particular, Lena Goulart and Carlos Sousa, as well as the participation of local radio host João Saavedra in all audio series episodes. We are very thankful for the contribution of the following scientists to the content development of the audio series: António Frias Martins, Rui Bento Elias, Alfredo Borba, Avelino Ormonde, Débora Henriques, José Carlos Fontes, Francisco Cota Rodrigues, Eva Lima, Paulo A. V. Borges, Emiliana Silva, Tomaz Ponce Dentinho, David João Horta Lopes, João Pedro Barreiros, Ana Luísa Picanço, António Félix Rodrigues, Jorge Alberto Pinheiro, Francisco Maduro Dias, and José Manuel Neto Azevedo. We thank Alexandra Baixinho for her contribution as an external judge in the inter-rater tests. At last, we would like to thank the reviewers for their thoughtful comments and for helping us improve the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Additional information

Funding

Field Guide was supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia a Portuguese public agency that supports science, technology and innovation, in all scientific domains. FCT project reference number: PTDC/CED/EDG/31182/2017. Author Isabel Amorim do Rosário was funded through FCT I.P., under the Norma Transitória – DL57/2016/CP1375/CT0003.