Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-sjtt6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-25T14:09:16.447Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Researching a Whole-Year EE Program: Some Methodological Issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2015

Coral Campbell ,
Georgina Herbert  and
Ian Robottom
Coral Campbell*
Affiliation:
Deakin University
Georgina Herbert
Affiliation:
Deakin University
Ian Robottom
Affiliation:
Deakin University
*
†School of Scientific and Developmental Studies in Education, Faculty of Education, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3217, Australia. Email: cjlc@deakin.edu.au
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A P-12 school in regional Victoria has an environmental theme throughout its Year Four program with classes located in a purpose-built Environmental Centre in a separate location within the school's grounds. We report here on a one-year case study of the grade four thematic integrated curriculum at the school. We reflect on and describe some of the methodological issues that arose during the interviews, direct observations, photography and video-recording. Some of the practical considerations associated with case-study methodology will be discussed. The paper concludes with a summary of emerging substantive issues and a prospective view to further research.

Keywords

environmental education researchcase studymethodologywhole-year EE, integrated curriculum.
Type
Viewpoint
Information
Australian Journal of Environmental Education , Volume 19 , 2003 , pp. 27 - 36
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bryman, A. (2001). Social research methods. UK: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Campbell, C. (2000). Science education in primary schools in a state of change. Doctoral Thesis, Deakin University, Geelong.Google Scholar
Campbell, C., Herbert, G., & Robottom, I. (2001). The welcome mat – participatory research and some dilemmas in practice. Paper presented at the Contemporary Approaches to Research in Mathematics, Science, Health and Environmental Education Symposium, Deakin University, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Czerniak, C.M., Weber, W.B. Jnr, Sandmann, A., & Ahern, J. (1999). A literature review of science and mathematics integration. School Science and Mathematics, 99(8), 421–430.Google Scholar
Dahlberg, K., Drew, N., & Nystrom, M. (2001). Reflective lifeworld research. Lund, Sweden, Studentlitteratur.Google Scholar
Mason, T.C. (1996). Integrated curricula: potential and problem. Journal of Teacher Education, 47(4), 263–271.Google Scholar
McTaggart, R. (1987). The development of curriculum evaluation as a field of enquiry. Section 1.1. In Approaches and dilemmas in curriculum evaluation (course materials). Geelong, Victoria, Deakin University Press.Google Scholar
Pitman, M., & Maxwell, J. (1992). Qualitative approaches to evaluation. In LeCompte, M., Millroy, W., & Preissle, J. (Eds.), The Handbook of Qualitative Research in Education (pp. 727–770). California, Academic Press, Inc.Google Scholar
Rickinson, M. (2001). Learning and learners in environmental education; A critical review of the evidence. Environmental Education Research, 3(7), 207–320.Google Scholar
Robson, C. (2002). Real world research. Oxford, UK, Blackwell Publishers Inc.Google Scholar
Stake, R. (1994) Case studies. In Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research. California, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Stake, R. (1988). Case study methods in educational research: Seeking sweet water. In Jaeger, R. (Ed.), Complementary Methods for Research in Education (pp. 253–265), Washington, American Educational Research Association.Google Scholar
Stake, R. (2000). Case studies. In Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. (Eds.), Handbook of Qualitative Research (Second edition). California, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Sturman, A. (1999). Case study methods. In Keeves, J.P. & Kakomski, G. (Eds.), Issues in educational research. Oxford, UK, Pergamon.Google Scholar
Venville, G., Wallace, J., Rennie, L., & Malone, J. (2000). Bridging the boundaries of compartmentalised knowledge: Student learning in an integrated environment. Research in Science and Technological Education, 18(1), 23–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, R. (1980). The conduct of educational case studies: Ethics, theory and procedures. In Dockrell, W.B. & Hamilton, D. (Eds.), Rethinking educational research. London, Hodder & Stoughton.Google Scholar