Infusing pro-environmental values in science education: A multimodal analysis of ecology animations for children

Science education is widely considered a crucial site for teaching environmental values (e.g. Littledyke, 2008). This study aims to contribute to the field by introducing a multimodal discourse analysis framework and analysing the environmental values in online ecology animations for children. Based on Martin and White’s (2005) attitude system, this study investigates (1) what pro-environmental values are incorporated in the animations; (2) what attitudinal meanings are used to represent the values; and (3) how the meanings are realised through multimodal resources. Our analysis of 67 online animations shows that they often express appreciation for nature and negative judgement about humans’ destructive activities. It is also found that the attitudes constructed are largely underpinned by biospheric values, holding humans responsible for nature by virtue of its inherent worth. The attitudes are often verbally constructed via scientific explanations and suggestions/instructions on how to solve/lessen various environmental issues, which balances well between the knowledge- and action-oriented dimensions of environmental education. Visually, anthropomorphism is frequently used, mostly to represent unhappiness/fear in different parts of nature and give them voice to respond to human intrusion. Overall, our findings support the pedagogical values of online ecology animations for environmental education for children