Environmental Literacy among Adults at Open University Malaysia
List of Authors
  • Chiam Chooi Chea , Hamidah Mat , Nor Aslina Abd Jalil , Oo Cheng Keat , Sharifah Rosfashida Syed Abd Latif , Siti Aishah Hashim Ali , Wirawani Kamarulzaman

Keyword
  • Open and Distance Learning, Environmental Education, Environmental Literacy, Knowledge, Disposition

Abstract
  • As an Open Distance Learning provider, Open University Malaysia is in the position to promote environmental education through its Lifelong Learning framework. Environmental Literacy was introduced through a topic in one of its university courses. This study aims to develop an environmental literacy assessment tool to measure the level of environmental literacy among -first year students who are well distributed across the country. This research adopts a quantitative approach using survey instruments. The first set of data was collected through an online survey by targeting new learners from the Learning Skills for 21st Century course. A total of 1861 learners were enrolled in this course in May 2019 Semester. Only 162 responses were analysed (8.7%).The assessment environmental literacy framework proposed by the North American Association for Environmental Education was adopted in this study. The level of knowledge of the students was proven to be high with mean score ranging from 3.86 to 4.33.The findings suggest that the effort to create environmentally literate adults through formal environmental education can be an effective measure.

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