Young Students' Conceptions of the Marine Environment and Their Role in the Development of Aquaria Exhibits

Informal learning settings such as aquaria are well-placed to help young students understand the nature and importance of marine environments. In order to achieve this, it is important to incorporate pedagogical principles into exhibit design. Using a constructivist perspective, this paper explores young students' conceptions of the marine environment. The findings indicate that although students are interested in marine life and are familiar with terms such as currents, tides and waves, their understanding of these concepts is limited and confused. It is suggested that by addressing children's limited conceptions in their exhibits and educational programmes, aquaria can foster an understanding of the environmental processes that support marine life, thus contributing to habitat conservation and species survival.