Abstract
Children’s ability to learn and retain material indoors was compared to outdoor learning subjects using a short, ten question survey before and after a lecture on Florida butterflies. The research question was, does outdoor education improve student learning gains through engagement of multiple senses, compared to an indoor lesson that utilizes text and lecture, on students’ understanding of Florida native butterfly species and their lifecycle? The outdoor lecture engaged participants inside a butterfly house at Rotary Park where participants could see, touch and smell items described in the lectures. The indoor lecture was given at the Youth Center and Yacht Club using a PowerPoint presentation in a classroom or auditorium at two locations, and a fourth location, Oasis Schools was tested without treatment for additional data on what children already know about butterflies and butterfly lifecycles. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA, followed by a t-test comparing age groups, location and gender for both pre-test scores and learning difference from pre-post-test. Individual questions were also analyzed using Chi Square to determine if there was a relationship between indoor and outdoor learning methods comparing age groups. The 7-9-year-old age group scored significantly lower than the 10-11- year-old and 12-13-year-old age groups when comparing pre-test scores. The Youth Center group scored significantly higher when comparing pre-test scores than the other locations. Rotary Park and the Yacht Club groups scored significantly higher than the Youth Center group when comparing difference of pre-post-test scores. In the age group 7-9-year-old, a positive correlation was found between indoor and outdoor treatments for two questions, signifying a relationship to this age group and treatment. In the age group 10-11-year-old, a positive correlation was found between indoor and outdoor treatments for questions two related to sensory engagement. In the age group 12-13-year-old, a positive correlation was found between indoor and outdoor treatments for one question related to sensory engagement.
