Comparing the Effectiveness of Formal and Informal Environmental Education in Sixth Grade Students

The aim of this study was to compare environmental education effectiveness in sixth grade students. For this purpose, both formal and informal forms of education were applied. Research method was quasi-experimental method. Statistical population was all sixth grade female students in Karaj, so 5th district was chosen randomly among 12 districts of Karaj, and then Negin Alborz Girls Elementary School was chosen. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire with two sections namely; attitude and performance with three tests. The value of 0/85 was obtained for Cronbach’s alpha. The students were divided randomly into formal and informal groups. A test was conducted in both informal and formal groups,before education. Then a combination of lecture and Q & A methods were used in formal education while in informal group, the learning was performed by student. Finally 2 months later, a test was performed for both groups after education. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The results showed that significant level t calculated, before education in both informal and formal groups ismore than 0/05 (p>0/05) and there is no significant difference. The significant level t calculated, after education and 2 months after education in both formal and informal groups is less than 0/05 (p