Navigating through ocean literacy gaps: an analysis of elementary school textbooks in Croatian education


DARIA EZGETA-BALIĆ
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0763-3647
NIKOLA BALIĆ
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4405-1470
Abstract

Ocean literacy (OL), defined as understanding the ocean’s influence on us and our influence on the ocean, is crucial for protecting marine ecosystems and resources. This study analysed the integration of ocean literacy principles (OLP) and concepts in Croatian elementary education. The content of textbooks for grades 1-8 across subjects like Nature, Biology, Geography, Chemistry, and Physics was examined. In total, 7,520 pages across 55 textbooks were analysed. The results revealed that, although all seven OLPs were present, numerous concepts were absent or only partially addressed. Discrepancies with the recommended Ocean Literacy Scope and Sequence were identified, particularly in lower grades. The findings highlight gaps in incorporating ocean sciences topics into formal education. Enhanced inclusion of OL principles and concepts across subjects and grades would provide students with comprehensive knowledge about the ocean, empowering future generations to make informed decisions and take responsible actions regarding ocean sustainability and conservation. The findings highlight the necessity for collaboration among ocean scientists, educational specialists, and policymakers to incorporate OL into curricula and textbooks, thereby enhancing students’ understanding of ocean sciences.

Article Details
  • Rubrik
  • Research Article
Downloads
Keine Nutzungsdaten vorhanden.
Literaturhinweise
Amelia, T.S.M., Khalik, W.M.A.W.M., Ong, M.C., Shao, Y.T., Pan, H.-J. et al., 2021. Marine microplastics as vectors of major ocean pollutants and its hazards to the marine ecosystem and humans. Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, 8 (1), 12.
Cava, F., Schoedinger, S., Strang, C., Tuddenham, P., 2005. Science content and standards for ocean literacy. A report on ocean literacy. https://coexploration.org/oceanliteracy/ documents/OLit2004-05_Final_Report.pdf (Accessed 30 January 2024).
Chang, C.-C., Hirenkumar, T.C., Wu, C.-K., 2021. The concept of ocean sustainability in formal education - comparative ocean literacy coverage analysis of the educational standards of India and the USA. Sustainability, 13 (8), 4314.
Cheimonopoulou, M., Koulouri, P., Previati, M., Realdon, G., Mokos, M. et al., 2022. Implementation of a new research tool for evaluating Mediterranean Sea Literacy (MSL) of high school students: A pilot study. Mediterranean Marine Science, 23 (2), 302-309.
Coll, M., Libralato, S., Tudela, S., Palomera, I., Pranovi, F., 2008. Ecosystem overfishing in the ocean. PLOS ONE, 3 (12), e3881.
Coma, R., Ribes, M., Serrano, E., Jiménez, E., Salat, J. et al., 2009. Global warming-enhanced stratification and mass mortality events in the Mediterranean. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106 (15), 6176-6181.
Costa, S., Caldeira, R., 2018. Bibliometric analysis of ocean literacy: An underrated term in the scientific literature. Marine Policy, 87, 149-157. Costanza, R., 1999. The ecological, economic, and social importance of the oceans. Ecological Economics, 31 (2), 199-213.
European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Joint Research Centre, Borriello, A., Calvo Santos, A. et al., 2023. The EU Blue Economy Report 2023. Publications Office of the European Union. https:// op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/9a345396 -f9e9-11ed-a05c-01aa75ed71a1/language-en (Accessed 30 January 2024).
Ezgeta-Balić, D., Zorica, B., Balić, N., 2023. Ocean u našim rukama: Vodič kroz oceansku pismenost. Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split, Croatia, 55 pp. (in Croatian).
Freitas, C., Bellgrove, A., Venzo, P., Francis, P., 2022. Towards a 2025 National Ocean Literacy Strategy: current status and future needs in primary education. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 883524.
Grégoire, M., Oschlies, A., Canfield, D., Castro, C., Ciglenečki, I. et al., 2023. Ocean oxygen: the role of the ocean in the oxygen we breathe and the threat of deoxygenation. Future Science Brief No. 10 of the European Marine Board. file:///C:/Users/user/Downloads/390662.pdf (Accessed 30 January 2024).
Halversen, C., Schoedinger, S., Payne, D., 2021. A handbook for increasing ocean literacy: tools for educators and ocean literacy advocates. National Marine Educators Association, College Park, MD, 96 pp.
Hansen, J., Sato, M., Ruedy, R., Lo, K., Lea, D.W. et al., 2006. Global temperature change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 103 (39), 14288-14293.
Hayes, A.F., Krippendorff, K., 2007. Answering the call for a standard reliability measure for coding data. Communication Methods and Measures, 1 (1), 77-89.
Hönisch, B., Ridgwell, A., Schmidt, D.N., Thomas, E., Gibbs, S.J. et al., 2012. The geological record of ocean acidification. Science, 335 (6072), 1058-1063.
Koulouri, P., Mogias, A., Mokos, M., Cheimonopoulou, M., Realdon, G. et al., 2022. Ocean literacy across the Mediterranean Sea basin: evaluating middle school students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour towards ocean sciences issues. Mediterranean Marine Science, 23 (2), 289-301.
Lal, N., 2017. Oceans and rivers literacy in Fiji’s social science curriculum: an analysis of primary school textbooks. Pacific Journal of Education, 1 (1), 47-56.
Landrigan, P.J., Stegeman, J.J., Fleming, L.E., Allemand, D., Anderson, D.M. et al., 2020. Human health and ocean pollution. Annals of Global Health, 86 (1), 151.
Lin, Y.-L., Wu, L.-Y., Tsai, L.-T., Chang, C.-C., 2020. The beginning of marine sustainability: preliminary results of measuring students’ marine knowledge and ocean literacy. Sustainability, 12 (17), 7115.
McPherson, K.L., Wright, T., Tyedmers, P.H., 2018. Examining the Nova Scotia science curriculum for international Ocean Literacy Principle inclusion. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 17 (11), 1-16.
Mogias, A., Boubonari, T., Realdon, G., Previati, M., Mokos, M. et al., 2019. Evaluating ocean literacy of elementary school students: preliminary results of a cross-cultural study in the Mediterranean Region. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 396.
Mogias, A., Boubonari, T., Kevrekidis, T., 2021. Examining the presence of ocean literacy principles in Greek primary school textbooks. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 30 (4), 314-331.
Mogias, A., Boubonari, T., Kevrekidis, T., 2022. Tracing the occurrence of ocean sciences issues in Greek secondary education textbooks. Mediterranean Marine Science, 23 (2), 310-320.
Mokos, M., Realdon, G., Zubak Čižmek, I., 2020. How to increase ocean literacy for future ocean sustainability? The influence of non-formal marine science education. Sustainability, 12 (24), 10647.
Ministry of Science and Education (MSE), 2023. Eksperimentalni program - Osnovna škola kao cjelodnevna škola: Uravnotežen, pravedan, učinkovit i održiv sustav odgoja i obrazovanja. Ministry of Science and Education, 73 pp. (in Croatian).
National Marine Educators Association (NMEA), 2010. Ocean Literacy Scope and Sequence for Grades K-12. https:// www.marine-ed.org/ocean-literacy/scope-and-sequence (Accessed 30 January 2010).
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2013. Ocean Literacy: the essential principles and fundamental concepts of ocean sciences for learners of all ages. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, College Park, MD, 11 pp.
Official Gazette, 2008. Zakon o Odgoju i Obrazovanju u Osnovnoj i Srednjoj Školi, 87/2008. https://narodne-novine. nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2008_07_87_2789.html (in Croatian) (Accessed 30 January 2024).
Official Gazette, 2019a. Odluka o Donošenju Kurikuluma Za Nastavni Predmet Geografije Za Osnovne Škole i Gimnazije u Republici Hrvatskoj, 7/2019. https://narodne-novine. nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2019_01_7_145.html (in Croatian) (Accessed 30 January 2024).
Official Gazette, 2019b. Odluka o Donošenju Kurikuluma Za Nastavni Predmet Biologije Za Osnovne Škole i Gimnazije u Republici Hrvatskoj, 7/2019. https://narodne-novine. nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2019_01_7_149.html (in Croatian) (Accessed 30 January 2024).
Palmer, J.A., Suggate, J., 2004. The development of children’s understanding of distant places and environmental issues: report of a UK longitudinal study of the development of ideas between the ages of 4 and 10 years. Research Papers in Education, 19 (2), 205-237.
Realdon, G., Mogias, A., Fabris, S., Candussio, G., Invernizzi, C. et al., 2019. Assessing ocean literacy in a sample of Italian primary and middle school students. Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana, 49, 107-112.
Schoedinger, S., Cava, F., Strang, C., Tuddenham, P., 2005. Ocean literacy through science standards. https://coexploration. org/oceanliteracy/documents/workshopreport.pdf (Accessed 30 January 2024).
Seys, J., Cox, L., Şahin Yücel, E., Ezgeta-Balić, D., Faimali, M., Garaventa, F. et al., 2022. Marine Science Communication in Europe – A way forward. Future Science Brief 8 of the European Marine Board. https://www.marineboard.eu/ sites/marineboard.eu/files/public/publication/EMB_FSB8_ Marine_science_communication_in_Europe_Web.pdf (Accessed 30 January 2024).
Tran, L.U., Payne, D.L. Whitley, L., 2010. Research on learning and teaching ocean and aquatic sciences. National Marine Educators Association. Special Report #3. https:// www.coexploration.org/oceanliteracy/NMEA_Report_3/ NMEA_2010-6-Learning.pdf (Accessed 30 January 2024).
Tsai, L.-T., Sasaki, T., Wu, C.-K., Chang, C.-C., 2023. Ocean literacy among Taiwanese and Japanese high school students. Marine Policy, 150, 105555.
Tsikliras, A.C., Dinouli, A., Tsiros, V.-Z., Tsalkou, E., 2015. The Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries at risk from overexploitation. PLOS ONE, 10 (3), e0121188.
United Nations, 2015. Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. https://sdgs.un.org/ sites/default/files/publications/21252030%20Agenda%20 for%20Sustainable%20Development%20web.pdf (Accessed 30 January 2024).