Development and evaluation of an experience-based soil education program package:Practices and evaluation of teaching methods for soil education incorporating perspectives from science education, psychology, microbiology, crop science, and soil science

Abstract

An experience-based educational program package was developed to communicate, in a stepwise manner, the importance of soil as the foundation of a sustainable society. Specifically, the package consists of three programs: (1) observation of the characteristics of surface soils developed under bamboo and mixed forests, combined with a simple activity involving pouring water from a plastic bottle onto the ground; (2) observation of soil profiles; and (3) observation of surface soils in paddy rice fields after harvest. Each program includes expert explanations of the objectives and curriculum content, as well as opportunities to observe the distinctive satoyama landscape while moving between sites. Through these activities, we aimed to enable college students to interact with topsoil in bamboo and mixed forests, experience soil water retention and drainage properties, and infer the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil through soil profile observation. Furthermore, by helping students gain a firsthand understanding of differences in landscape and elevation at the farm—located in a satoyama area—we sought to foster an appreciation of soil by guiding them to recognize that soil is widely distributed across the farm and supports its functions, thereby reducing any aversion they might have toward soil. A survey including a general emotional scale and a soil familiarity scale was administered to participants before and after the program. The results showed a significant increase in overall positive emotion, as well as in positive perceptions of soil familiarity. In addition to therapeutic effects—such as “calmness” and “a sense of security”—derived from contact with soil, stimulating effects such as “fun” and “excitement” were also identified. Analysis of free-response data revealed that the frequency of the word “soil” increased across activity sites in the following order: bamboo grove, mixed woodland, soil profile, and paddy field. These findings suggest that the program package is effective in fostering participants’ ability to perceive soil as part of the landscape (i.e., developing an “eye for soil”).