The Effectiveness and Challenges of Using IoT as Educational Materials in Environmental Education

-Insights from a CO₂ Sensing Class-

Abstract

  This study investigated the effectiveness and challenges of applying IoT technology in environmental education, targeting vocational college students majoring in information science. This educational practice, conducted via collaborative group work, featured real-time CO₂ data measurement, visualization, and analysis to provide a hands-on understanding of how environmental data is used socially. The outcomes were evaluated through a questionnaire survey based on four analytical perspectives. The analysis revealed that: (1) students with higher class satisfaction tended to have greater proficiency and comprehension; (2) students who perceived the course as difficult had insufficient understanding of the learning content; (3) students who felt their understanding improved showed an increased interest in environmental issues; and (4) students with a higher level of comprehension indicated a stronger motivation to engage in future environmental sensing and data analysis. These results suggest that IoT can serve as a valuable tool and method to support inquiry-based learning in environmental education. However, they also suggest that its effective implementation requires instructional design and operation that is responsive to learner characteristics and the educational context.