Using entomological collections to enhance elementary school learning

Abstract

Insects are the most successful group of living organisms on the earth. They are a regular part of the school curriculum and, in light of ongoing insect extinction, should become one of the crucial topics in education. For proper understanding, it is necessary to support learning activities with a focus on species identification. We compared two demonstrative methods of teaching insect species at the lower secondary stage in elementary schools. Demonstrations using entomological collections and images were evaluated to determine which method is more effective for knowledge acquisition. Statistical analyses showed significant differences between the two observed learning methods. Pupils who used biological collections achieved better results compared to those who learned using images only.