Evaluating the Effectiveness and Opinions of School Children in North Chile on an Alternative Audiovisual or Text Report for Communicating Science

Abstract

The dissemination of science at primary levels of education is one of the main public policies for the training of scientists and the sustainability of the planet in general. In this context, the main goal of this study is to compare two dissemination strategies (audiovisual vs. written reports) in the understanding of a coastal ecological scenario in elementary school students in northern Chile. To evaluate the effectiveness of a written and audiovisual report as a science communication strategy, both were presented to 6th-level primary school students. The result of this study revealed low levels of comprehension, with no significant differences between the communicational strategies. However, students recognized the value of writing over audiovisual media in the construction of their learning. The analysis of general comprehension of a common ecological environment, tested in both dissemination formats, shows that only one-third of the students fully understood the information. This study highlights the importance of this research on student perception and the incorporation of more advanced communication strategies in the dissemination of science and technology at the national level.