Term
Fall 2025
Capstone
Thesis
Degree Name
MAED: NSEE
Primary Advisor/Dissertation Chair
Julia Reimer
Abstract
Dixon, A. (2025). When the Student Becomes the Teacher: Learning-by-Teaching as a Tool for Conservation Career Development
This study explored the research question: How do teaching-centered conservation career development programs influence participants’ science identity and self-efficacy? The literature review includes context on STEM and conservation careers, social cognitive career theory, science identity and self-efficacy, and learning-by-teaching. Participants in the Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s High School Assistant (HSA) volunteer and conservation education internship programs were given the option to complete pre- and post-surveys surrounding their participation in their respective summer program. These surveys measured individuals’ science identity, science and environmental self-efficacy, and environmental education teaching self-efficacy. Data analysis showed significant change in science and environmental education teaching self-efficacy, but not in science identity. This could potentially be explained by a combination of ceiling effects and the application-based nature of the programs. Results also indicated that interns had significantly higher environmental education teaching self-efficacy scores than HSAs, both before and after program participation, which may be attributed to distinct differences in the hiring, training and relative levels of experience and responsibility between the two programs. Ultimately, this study provides key learnings that can be intentionally implemented in these types of programs to encourage participants to sustain in STEM and conservation-based academic and career fields. Additional implications, study limitations, and future directions for research are also discussed.
Keywords
Environmental Studies, Science, Conservation Careers, Career Development
Recommended Citation
Dixon, Ana, "When the Student Becomes the Teacher: Learning-by-Teaching as a Tool for Conservation Career Development" (2025). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations. 4633.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_all/4633
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations