Cairo American College Marine Ecology Course Evaluation

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to evaluate and revise the 7th grade Marine Ecology Course (MEC) at Cairo American College (CAC) in Ma’adi, Cairo, Egypt in order to achieve a measureable increase in participating students’ environmental literacy. The researcher began by using the North American Association of Environmental Education’s (NAAEE) Nonformal Environmental Education Programs (NEEP): Guidelines for Excellence to evaluate the MEC. To gather the data needed to conduct this evaluation, she utilized field studies, conversations with participating colleagues and students, and student journal narratives and drawings. The researcher then used the results of the NEEP Guidelines evaluation to recommend changes to the MEC and to select several specific changes to implement. Implementing these changes involved the development of a documented set of goals and objectives, a logic model, and an evaluation plan for the course, as well as the creation or revision of several course-related activities and assessments. These activities included an ecosystem project, student journal, and debate that were geared toward further developing students’ environmental literacy. Assessments included a snorkeling skills evaluation, student surveys, pre- and posttests, and focus groups that were geared toward measuring students’ environmental literacy before and after completion of the MEC. The researcher obtained feedback from colleagues and students on each of these documents via interviews and pilot groups and made further revisions to each as necessary. The results of this study helped to ensure that each document could be effectively utilized to achieve a measureable increase in MEC students’ environmental literacy.