The Costa Rica GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) Project as a Learning Science Environment

Abstract

GLOBE is a global educational program for elementary and high school levels, and its main purpose in Costa Rica is to develop scientific thinking and interest for science in high school students through hydrology research projects that allow them to relate science with environmental issues in their communities. Youth between 12 and 17 years old from public schools participate in science clubs outside of their regular school schedule. A comparison study was per- formed between different groups, in order to assess GLOBE’s applicability as a learning science atmosphere and the moti- vation and interest it generates in students toward science. Internationally applied scales were used as tools for mea- suring such indicators, adapted to the Costa Rican context. The results provide evidence statistically significant that the students perceive the GLOBE atmosphere as an enriched environment for science learning in comparison with the traditional science class. Moreover, students feel more con- fident, motivated and interested in science than their peers who do not participate in the project. However, the results were not statistically significant in this last respect.