Evaluating the Patios Biodivers Project: Building a More Complex Understanding of Biodiversity to Promote More Targeted Actions for Its Enhancement

Abstract

This study evaluates the pilot test of the educational project Patios Biodivers, aimed at primary school students. The project includes various educational materials for investigating birds, invertebrates, and plants in schoolyards, with the goal of enhancing biodiversity. The evaluation focuses on key elements in developing ecocitizenship competencies, specifically: a) building a more complex understanding of terrestrial ecosystems, and b) promoting well-informed actions to improve biodiversity. The evaluation was carried out through a content analysis of focus groups conducted with primary students from three schools participating in the pilot. A total of 13 focus groups were organized, involving 49 children, held at the beginning of the project and again at its conclusion. The results show that the students who participated in the project generally: a) identified more factors that promote biodiversity; and b) proposed more appropriate actions to address the issue, particularly those emphasizing vegetation improvement. In conclusion, working in contexts close to students and following scientific inquiry processes can help improve ecological knowledge as well as the capacity for action