Evaluating the effect of environmental graphic media on active learning: Evidence from increasing the general knowledge of the primary school students about the environment

Presenting the informative messages through the art and environmental graphic media may serve as a novel and effective method in increasing knowledge of the modern life. But the real amount of the efficacy is unknown among other factors due to various reasons. Using the field research approaches, the present study tried to find the rate of efficacy of this media on transferring the pedagogic messages through a case study on the knowledge acquisition of primary school students about environment. To achieve this goal, the other intervening factors which may affect the transfer of information to the students were controlled.The research population included female students studying at 4th, 5th and 6th grade primary schools of Isfahān. One of these schools was randomly selected as the target group. Then, an environmental stand was designed and installed within the school. To evaluate the efficacy of the designs, a series of questionnaire was administered. After investigating the validity of the questionnaires by experts, the reliability of them was measured via Cronbach’s Alpha method and then they were filled by 244 students and staff at school prior to and following the installation of the stands. Comparing the results of pre and post-tests supports the educational efficacy of the environmental graphic media and a significant change was observed in the information of the students, meaning that the information and knowledge of the students has increased up to 40%. The students considered the environmental graphic media to have more effect on increasing their knowledge about the subject compared to other effective factors like books and teachers.