"Two are more than one": evaluation of a programme operated by the Bumblebee - Friends of Nature organization

Abstract

This article presents the results of an evaluation of the long-term program implemented by organization Čmelák [English: Bumblebee] – Friends of Nature called ‘Two are more than one’. The program is primarily focused on the validation of methods that contribute to inclusion in education and include elements of personal and social education, environmental education and trades. The evaluation consists of two parts –evaluation of the ‘development cycle’ and evaluation of the ‘creative educational cycle’. The evaluation of the development cycle uses a simple design based on observation and semi-structured interviews with teachers from cooperating schools and with teachers of the programs. The evaluation of the creatively-educational cycle uses a mixed design incorporating a survey comparing the pupils' attitudes before and after the program, analysis of pupils’ focus groups consisting, observations, and semi-structured interviews with teachers and programme teachers. The program provides results in the development of relations within individual classes, and partly also in establishing contacts and in the development of cooperation across classes. The program also provides results in the thematic areas – environmental and trades. The evaluation also revealed some problematic aspects of the program.