Media Cartoons: Effects on Issue Resolution in Environmental Education

Abstract The study focused on media cartoons as a teaching strategy in Environmental Education. Specifically, it sought to determine the effects of media cartoons on the issue resolution skills of first year high school students. The study was conducted in La Salle Green Hills that had eleven sections in the first year high school level for the School Year 2009-2010. Two comparable sections being taught by the researcher were chosen as the groups for the study. Both classes met for 80 minutes per meeting, three times a week. The students were given a pretest and a posttest on both Issue Resolution Skills Test (IRST). The IRST measured the ability to provide solutions to various environmental issues and problems. A teaching strategy that included film showing, group dynamics, laboratory activities, and motivational games was utilized for the conventional group. Media cartoons that improve skills in issue resolution and conceptual understanding of topics on Environmental Education were introduced to the students in the experimental group.The scores in the pretest and posttest of the participants were tabulated and used to determine the significant difference of the students’ mean performance in the media cartoons and conventional groups. The t-test was utilized in the treatment and analysis of data gathered. Findings reveal that exposure to media cartoons results to a significantly better issue resolution skills on environmental education topics than the conventional approach. The researcher observed that students actively engaged themselves in media cartoon activities that enabled them to make responsible actions and provide solutions to local and global environmental problems. Students had an active participation in sharing insights and opinions in evaluating the message of media cartoons.Based on the findings of this study, the researcher concludes that exposure to media cartoons significantly improves the issue resolution skills of students. The strategy provided a learning opportunity in a non-threatening setting that promotes students’ skills of observation, formulation of hypothesis, and creativity. In this regard, the researcher encourages the use of media cartoons as an alternative teaching strategy as it improved the issue resolution skills of students. Learning activities in combination with environmental education methods can greatly enhance students’ engagement with environmental and science issues.