Effects of Experiential-Reflective Teaching on Students’ Environmental Knowledge and Pro-Environmental Consumer Behavior

This study investigated the effects of Experiential-Reflective Teaching Approach on students‘ environmental knowledge and pro-environmental consumer behavior. A quasi-experimental inquiry with the pretest-posttest two-group design was implemented randomly assigning one group to Conventional Teaching Approach group and the other to Experiential-Reflective Teaching Approach group. The study was conducted during the 4th quarter of Academic Year 2018-2019 with focus on environmental topics. The sample includes fifty-four (54) Grade 7 students from a public general high school in Quezon City. The two research instruments: Environmental Knowledge Scale and Pro-Environmental Consumer Behavior Scale, were validated by the experts and pilot tested among eighty (80) students in Grade 8. The data were analyzed using a paired sample t-test and t-test for independence. Findings of the study revealed that there is a significant difference between experiential-reflective teaching group and conventional teaching group for enhancing the students‘ environmental knowledge. However, there is no significant difference between experiential-reflective teaching group and conventional teaching group for enhancing the students‘ pro-environmental consumer behavior. The study concludes that Experiential-Reflective Teaching Approach has an apparent effect on students‘ environmental knowledge; however, it may yield a positive effect on the development of students‘ pro-environmental consumer behavior particularly on Recycling. It is recommended that a thorough study may be conducted to explore external ways that hinder students from acting as pro-environmental consumers. This will also strengthen other factors on students‘ pro-environmental consumer behavior and explore other learning and teaching approach in science more proficient and expedient. Moreover, the findings from this study may help educators in the field to design teaching materials that will enhance students‘ environmental knowledge and will positively influence pro-environmental appreciations.