Pedagogical Conditions for the Development of Students’ Ecological Competence in the Modern Educational Space
Abstract
The aim of the study was to identify effective approaches to integrating environmental education into the learning process. The methodology included student surveys, interviews with teachers and parents, and an analysis of students’ creative works. The level of environmental awareness among students and teachers was examined. Specifically, 58% of students regularly spend time in nature, but only 41% adhere to principles of environmentally responsible behaviour. Interactive methods are employed by 62% of teachers in delivering environmental education, and half of the students actively participate in creative projects focused on nature conservation. Survey results revealed that 81% of students understand waste segregation, yet only 39% practice it at home. During interviews, 67% of parents assessed their children’s environmental awareness as high or sufficient, but 25% rarely discuss environmental issues at home. An analysis of students’ creative works – including drawings, essays, and photo reports – showed that 78% of drawings depict the beauty of nature and the need for its preservation, while 64% of essays contain proposals for improving the environmental situation in their city. Furthermore, only 39% of families actively engage in waste segregation, indicating a need for improved environmental practices in the household. The results also demonstrated that 32% of students and 62% of teachers consider the integration of environmental topics across all disciplines important. The practical significance of the study lies in using these findings to develop recommendations for enhancing students’ ecological competence through improved infrastructure, family involvement, and the implementation of interactive teaching methods.
Keywords: students, environmental awareness, conservation activities, innovative methods, civic responsibility
© 2025 Serbian Geographical Society, Belgrade, Serbia.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Serbia.
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Abakirov, A., Isakova, C., & Tkacheva, S. (2025). Environmental Education in the Context of Globalization: Psychological and Pedagogical Aspects. Bulletin of the Serbian Geographical Society, 105(2), 89-114. https://doi.org/10.2298/GSGD2502089A
Abdrakhmanov, R., Zhaxanova, A., Karatayeva, M., Niyazova, G. Z., Berkimbayev, K., & Tuimebayev, A. (2024). Development of a Framework for Predicting Students' Academic Performance in STEM Education using Machine Learning Methods. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 15(1), 38–46. https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2024.0150105
Adieva, A. A., Atabekova, N. K., Kelgenbaeva, K. A., Bekboeva, R. R., & Uraimova, T. A. (2025). Issues of Environmental Education and Development of Green Economy in Contemporary Universities of Kyrgyzstan. In: E.G. Popkova (Ed.), Bridging the Gap Between the Higher Education and Labor Markets: Relevance of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (pp. 213-220). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-1933-7_24
Aliman, M., & Mutia, T. (2021). The Effect of Digital Eco-Learning in Student Worksheet Flipbook to Environmental Project Literacy and Pedagogic Competency. JOTSE: Journal of Technology and Science Education, 11(2), 357-370. http://dx.doi.org/10.3926/jotse.1175
American Sociological Association (2018). Code of Ethics. American Sociological Association. https://www.asanet.org/wp-content/uploads/asa_code_of_ethics-june2018.pdf
Araujo-Vizuete, G., Robalino-López, A., & Murillo-Ojeda, R. (2022). Evaluation of Environmental Competencies in Higher Education Institutions (HEI). Case Study: National Polytechnic School, Ecuador. DYNA, 89(224), 132-139. https://doi.org/10.15446/dyna.v89n224.103515
Asad, M. M., Aftab, K., Sherwani, F., Churi, P., Moreno-Guerrero, A. J., & Pourshahian, B. (2021). Techno‐Pedagogical Skills for 21st Century Digital Classrooms: An Extensive Literature Review. Education Research International, 2021(1), Article 8160084. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8160084
Bazaluk, O. (2018). The feature transformations of the basic meanings of Greek paideia in the educational theories in the middle ages. Schole, 12(1), 243-258. https://doi.org/10.21267/AQUILO.2018.12.10428
Bordiug, N. (2023). Criteria and Indicators of Formation of Environmental Competence Among High School Students by Means of Project and Research Activity. Theoretical and Methodical Problems of Children and Youth Education, 27(1), 90-104. https://doi.org/10.32405/2308-3778-2023-27-1-90-104
Canlas, I. P., & Abdisalamovna, Z. A. (2024). Education for Sustainable Development in Kyrgyzstan Schools: Teachers’ Voices. In W. Leal Filho, T.F. Ng, U. Iyer-Raniga, A. Ng & A. Sharifi (Eds.), SDGs in the Asia and Pacific Region (pp. 723-744). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17463-6_85
Charteris, J., Smardon, D., & Nelson, E. (2020). Innovative Learning Environments and New Materialism: A Conjunctural Analysis of Pedagogic Spaces. In L. Benade & M. Jackson (Eds.), Design, Education and Pedagogy (pp. 28-41). London: Routledge https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003024781
Chung, J.-K. (2025). The educational roles of Geojassi Christian school. European Journal of Science and Theology, 21(1), 29–45.
Closs, L., Mahat, M., & Imms, W. (2022). Learning Environments’ Influence on Students’ Learning Experience in an Australian Faculty of Business and Economics. Learning Environments Research, 25, 271-285. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-021-09361-2
Datskovsky, I.V.M., Bocheliuk, V.I., Nagymzhanov, A.K., Turebayeva, S.M., Nechyporenko, V.V., & Pozdnyakova, O.L. (2018). New solution of psycho-physiological problem. Utopia y Praxis Latinoamericana, 23(82), 417–421. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1513222
De Vera, J.L., Andrada, M.D., Bello, A., & De Vera, M.G. (2021). Teachers’ Competencies in Educational Technology Integration on Instructional Methodologies in the New Normal. Lukad: An Online Journal of Pedagogy, 1(1), 61-80. https://lukad.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/volume1_issue1_devera_et_al_June2021.pdf
Díaz-Noguera, M.D., Hervás-Gómez, C., De la Calle-Cabrera, A.M., & López-Meneses, E. (2022). Autonomy, Motivation, and Digital Pedagogy are Key Factors in the Perceptions of Spanish Higher-Education Students Toward Online Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2), Article 654. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020654
Ergeshov, E.T., Sargazin, Z.S., & Makhanbetov, G. (2022). Modern Issues of Education Research Policy Management in Central Asia: Case Study Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Bulletin of the Kyrgyz National University named after Zhusup Balasagyn, 14(3), 43-48.
Georgievna, Y.L. (2020). Creation of Modern Literature in Higher Education. Mental Enlightenment Scientific-Methodological Journal, 1(1), 140-150. https://mentaljournal-jspu.uz/index.php/mesmj/article/view/39
Gulnoz, M., & Nazira, A. (2020). The Use of Information-Communication Technologies and Modern Methods in Teaching a Foreign Language. Mental Enlightenment Scientific-Methodological Journal, 1(1), 175-182. https://mentaljournal-jspu.uz/index.php/mesmj/article/view/43
Hadjichambis, A.C., & Paraskeva-Hadjichambi, D. (2020). Education for Environmental Citizenship: The Pedagogical Approach. In A.Ch. Hadjichambis, P. Reis, D. Paraskeva-Hadjichambi, J. Činčera, J. Boeve-de Pauw, N. Gericke & M.-C. Knippels (Eds.), Conceptualizing Environmental Citizenship for 21st Century Education, (pp. 237-261). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20249-1_15
Häggström, M., & Schmidt, C. (2020). Enhancing Children’s Literacy and Ecological Literacy Through Critical Place-Based Pedagogy. Environmental Education Research, 26(12), 1729-1745. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2020.1812537
Hamilton, D., McKechnie, J., Edgerton, E., & Wilson, C. (2021). Immersive Virtual Reality as a Pedagogical Tool in Education: A Systematic Literature Review of Quantitative Learning Outcomes and Experimental Design. Journal of Computers in Education, 8,1-32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40692-020-00169-2
Hussain, T., Ahmed, S.R., Lahori, A.H., Mierzwa-Hersztek, M., Vambol, V., Khan, A.A., Rafique, L., Wasia, S., Shahid, M.F., & Zengqiang, Z. (2022). In-situ stabilization of potentially toxic elements in two industrial polluted soils ameliorated with rock phosphate-modified biochars. Environmental Pollution, 309, Article 119733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119733
Ikramovna, I.N. (2023). Formation of Environmental Competence of Students. Current Research Journal of Pedagogics, 4(10),78-85. https://doi.org/10.37547/pedagogics-crjp-04-10-15
Kariippanon, K.E., Cliff, D.P., Okely, A.D., & Parrish, A.M. (2020). The “Why” and “How” of Flexible Learning Spaces: A Complex Adaptive Systems Analysis. Journal of Educational Change, 21(4), 569-593. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-019-09364-0
Kazakbaeva, R. (2023). Knowledge Base for Classroom Preparedness: Analyzing Initial English Language Teacher Education in Kyrgyzstan. SAGE Open, 13(4), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231220734
Klikh, L., Zazymko, O., Nazarenko, V., & Rudyk, Ya. (2025). Ways to Overcome Educational Losses in Higher Technological Education. Humanities Studios: Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, 13(3), 23-37. https://doi.org/10.31548/hspedagog/3.2025.23
Krutsevich, T., Pengelova, N., & Trachuk, S. (2019). Model-target characteristics of physical fitness in the system of programming sports and recreational activities with adolescents. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 19, 242-248. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2019.s1036
Kulueva, C.R., Temirova, B.T., Marzabayeva, B.T., Ibraimova, S.S., & Amatova, U.O. (2023). The Role of Digitalization of Educational in the Sustainable Development of the Regions of Kyrgyzstan. In E.G. Popkova (Ed.), Smart Green Innovations in Industry 4.0 for Climate Change Risk Management (pp. 359-367). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28457-1_37
Luft, J.A., Jeong, S., Idsardi, R., & Gardner, G. (2022). Literature Reviews, Theoretical Frameworks, and Conceptual Frameworks: An Introduction for New Biology Education Researchers. CBE – Life Sciences Education, 21(3), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.21-05-0134
Lukyanenko, O., Dmytrenko, V., & Maistruk, N. (2025). Role of Museums in the Formation of General and Professional Competences of Students in Arts and Humanities. Ukrainian Professional Education, 9(1), 19-31. https://doi.org/10.33989/2519-8254.2025.17.342359
Lungu, V., & Silistraru, L.N. (2021). Conceptual Approaches of Prospective Pedagogy. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 16(18), 69–84. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v16i18.25169
Luzan, P., Titova, O., Kurok, R., & Mosia, I. (2021). The Methodology for Assessment of Engineering Students Outcomes. In Proceedings of the 20th IEEE International Conference on Modern Electrical and Energy Systems, MEES 2021. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Kremenchuk. https://doi.org/10.1109/MEES52427.2021.9598666
Mamurov, B., Mamanazarov, A., Abdullaev, K., Davronov, I., Davronov, N., & Kobiljonov, K. (2020). Acmeological Approach to the Formation of Healthy Lifestyle Among University Students. In Proceedings of the III International Scientific Congress Society of Ambient Intelligence 2020 (ISC-SAI 2020) (pp. 347-353). Dordrecht: Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.200318.043
Mettis, K., & Väljataga, T. (2021). Designing Learning Experiences for Outdoor Hybrid Learning Spaces. British Journal of Educational Technology, 52(1), 498-513. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13034
Monte, T., & Reis, P. (2021). Design of a Pedagogical Model of Education for Environmental Citizenship in Primary Education. Sustainability, 13(11), Article 6000. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116000
Niyazova, G.Z., Berkimbaev, K.M., Pralieva, R.E., Berdi, D.K., & Bimaganbetova, A.K. (2013). To the question of professional competence of the future teacher of chemistry. Life Science Journal, 10(9), 193–197.
Onipko, V. (2025). Formation of Legal Culture of Higher Education Students. Ukrainian Professional Education, 9(1), 40-48. https://doi.org/10.33989/2519-8254.2025.17.342366
Ramey, K., Dunphy, M., Schamberger, B., Shoraka, Z.B., Mabadeje, Y., & Tu, L. (2024). Teaching in the Wild: Dilemmas Experienced by K-12 Teachers Learning to Facilitate Outdoor Education. Proceedings of International Conference of the Learning Sciences, ICLS (pp. 1195–1198). International Society of the Learning Sciences. https://doi.org/10.22318/icls2024.227170
Salykova, L., Ibadildin, N., & Lebedev, D. (2022). Competence Model Development at Astana IT University. In: SIST 2022 - 2022 International Conference on Smart Information Systems and Technologies, Proceedings. Nur-Sultan: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1109/SIST54437.2022.9945819
Sasson, I., Yehuda, I., Miedijensky, S., & Malkinson, N. (2022). Designing New Learning Environments: An Innovative Pedagogical Perspective. Curriculum Journal, 33(1), 61-81. https://doi.org/10.1002/curj.125
Sebastián-López, M., & de Miguel González, R. (2020). Mobile Learning for Sustainable Development and Environmental Teacher Education. Sustainability, 12(22), Article 9757. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229757
Sergey, B., Alfiya, A., Gulmira, A., Ainura, A., & Alexandr, P. (2024). Education for Sustainable Development: Comparative Analysis and Prospects at Universities in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Discover Sustainability, 5, Article 140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00343-x
Shynkaruk, O. (2025). Fostering a Culture of Academic Integrity Among Higher Education Students. Humanities Studios: Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, 13(3), 9-22. https://doi.org/10.31548/hspedagog/3.2025.9
Titova, O., & Sosnytska, N. (2020). The Engineer's Creative Potential Scales. In: Proceedings of the 25th IEEE International Conference on Problems of Automated Electric Drive. Theory and Practice, PAEP 2020 (Article number 9240882). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Kremenchuk. https://doi.org/10.1109/PAEP49887.2020.9240882
Tkach, V.V., Kushnir, M.V., de Oliveira, S.C., Ivanushko, Y.G., Velyka, A.V., Molodianu, A.F., Yagodynets, P.I., Kormosh, Z.O., Dos Reis, L.V., Luganska, O.V., Palamarek, K.V., & Bredikhina, Y.L. (2020). Electrochemical Determination of Sudan Dyes and Two Manner to Realize it: A Theoretical Investigation. Letters in Applied NanoBioScience, 9(4), 1451–1458. https://doi.org/10.33263/LIANBS94.14511458
Varenyk, V., & Piskova, Zh. (2025). Implementation of Scrum Methodology Elements in the Educational Process in Ukraine: New horizons for the development of communication competences. Pedagogical Sciences, 28(1), 14-24. https://doi.org/10.33989/2524-2474.2025.1.14
Wang, Y., Sommier, M., & Vasques, A. (2022). Sustainability Education at Higher Education Institutions: Pedagogies and Students’ Competences. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 23(8), 174-193. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-11-2021-0465
Yeraliyeva, Zh.M., Kunelbayev, M., Ospanbayev, Zh.O., Kurmanbayeva M.S., Kolev T.P., Kenesbayev, S.M., & Newsome, A.S. (2016). The study of agricultural techniques of cultivation of new varieties of winter wheat under drip irrigation. Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences, 18(3), 779–785.
Zatserkovnyi, O. (2025). A Comparative Analysis of Gamification Tools in Enhancing Content Retention in CLIL-based EFL Classrooms. Pedagogical Sciences, 28(1), 6-13. https://doi.org/10.33989/2524-2474.2025.1.6
Zhao, Y., Umair, M., Gulzar, F., Guliyeva, S., & Xabibullayev, D. (2025). The role of private natural heritage conservation areas in promoting sustainable development Goals Insight. Ecological Indicators, 176, Article 113658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113658
Zulushova, A., Emilbekova, D., Isakova, U., Shermatova, Z., Manasov, N., Suiunbekova, A., & Abdullaeva, Z. (2021). Students’ Self-Organization and Problem Solving Competencies Formation in Explaining Water Resources Ecological Conditions and Bioecological Features of Azolla Caroliniana. Creative Education, 12(8), 1848-1857. https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2021.128140
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
