Video as a tool to increase understanding and support for the Endangered Species Act

ABSTRACTResearch into the effectiveness of video as a tool to educate students about environmental issues and cause a change in their attitudes toward them in a classroom setting is limited. We sought to add to this sparse body of research. We created three videos that showcased a species in a different stage of protection under the Endangered Species Act. Each video focused on a different species and employed different strategies to deliver content to the students who viewed them. The videos were screened to students in six classes. Data was collected via preassessments and postassessments from 140 students and analyzed using Wilcoxen Matched-Pairs Signed Ranks test. Each video significantly increased student content understanding and one video, “The Champion Chub,” improved student attitudes toward the Endangered Species Act. The study provides additional support for the effectiveness of video content as an environmental education tool.