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Improvement of attitudes and skills using a MOOC about the basic science of climate change

Author

Listed:
  • Enzo Ferrari

    (Universidad de Salamanca)

  • Anne-Marie Ballegeer

    (Universidad de Salamanca)

  • Diego Corrochano

    (Universidad de Salamanca)

  • Miguel Ángel Fuertes

    (Universidad de Salamanca)

  • Pablo Herrero Teijón

    (Universidad de Salamanca)

  • María Laura Delgado Martín

    (Universidad de Salamanca)

  • Santiago Andrés Sánchez

    (Universidad de Salamanca)

  • Camilo Ruiz

    (Universidad de Salamanca)

Abstract

Education needs to be at the forefront of the efforts to mitigate and adapt to Climate Change (CC) effects. We have introduced the Climate Change Competence (C3) to provide a comprehensive route to include the topics of sustainability and CC into the curriculum. This paper analyses how different primary and secondary teachers can improve this competence using a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) on the basic science of CC. While the improvement in knowledge is expected, we have observed important advances on abilities, and attitudes on CC which are also essential to teach about CC mitigation and adaptation. The present study used a pre-experimental design, with pre-and post-test measurements with a sample of 530 students. While the MOOC focuses on the Science of CC, the participants also advance in attitudes and abilities, revealing an important correlation between these three dimensions of competence. Also, the study reveals that the MOOC improves the C3 in all the participants, but it does in diverse ways for diverse groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Enzo Ferrari & Anne-Marie Ballegeer & Diego Corrochano & Miguel Ángel Fuertes & Pablo Herrero Teijón & María Laura Delgado Martín & Santiago Andrés Sánchez & Camilo Ruiz, 2024. "Improvement of attitudes and skills using a MOOC about the basic science of climate change," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03139-6
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-03139-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sarah L. Burch & Sara E. Harris, 2014. "A Massive Open Online Course on climate change: the social construction of a global problem using new tools for connectedness," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 5(5), pages 577-585, September.
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