Smart digital technologies for environmental education: An innovative lever for natural heritage preservation in Morocco

¹ Science and Technology Research Laboratory - LRST, Higher School of Education and Training of Agadir, University of Ibnou Zohr, Morocco
² Science and Technology Research Laboratory - LRST, Higher School of Education and Training of Agadir, University of Ibnou Zohr, Morocco
³ Civil Engineering, Water, Environment and Geosciences Centre – CICEEG, Mohammadia School of Engineering Mohamed V University Rabat, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: s.rachad@uiz.ac.ma

Abstract

Morocco’s ecologically sensitive areas always require environmental education to help save Morocco’s natural resources. This paper presents a new approach to educating students using technology and includes interactive applications, augmented reality, and field sensing devices. Instead of rote memorization typically used for educational purposes, the described approach would provide a real-word learning experience and develop learners’ and teachers’ perception of their environment. The study also contributes to the field of sustainable development by promoting environmental awareness. The research developed and documented a model for using technology to increase students’ knowledge of ecological processes and the preservation of natural resources. The research included 124 students and 12 teachers from two partner institutions from the Fes-Meknes and oriental regions. Findings indicated a 36.8% increase in the mean environmental test scores of students, and that participation in eco-activities at school increased 41.2%. additionally, 91.7% of teachers believed that the use of smart digital resources improved student understanding of environmental issues, and 83.3% were excited to use this method in the classroom. The study’s results support the importance of providing real-world scientific experiences (Ibanez & Delgado, 2018; Rachad & Oughdir, 2023) and firmly establish that technology (digital science education) positively impacts student learning.