Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience: An Examination of the Impact of Outdoor Education on Academic Achievement of Struggling Middle School Science Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience, or “MWEE”, would increase academic achievement for struggling middle school students in their science classes. This study utilized a quasi-experimental design, as twenty- eight eighth grade Baltimore County Public School students in a Title I school were analyzed for achievement in their science class after the treatment of participating in a MWEE and then compared against their seventh grade science grades. The study hypothesized that the treatment would not have an impact on academic achievement. After the MWEE participation treatment, the majority of students demonstrated increased overall grades in science classes from seventh grade to eighth grade. There were substantial threats to validity, however, which could make the argument for a more robust and longitudinal study during future research.