Teaching Resource on Flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley: Assessing the Impact on Student Learning

This report details the findings of research conducted for Infrastructure NSW assessing the impact of teaching curriculum resource about Hawkesbury”‘Nepean Valley on students’ understanding of natural hazards, community preparedness and responses to flooding. The research comprised pre and post surveys of students’ understanding and awareness of natural hazards and emergency services and planning before and after the resource was delivered. This quantitative survey data has been analysed in the findings. A focus group to identify teacher’s perspectives and experiences of using the resource was conducted. Qualitative evidence from the focus group interviews is presented. Survey participants included a sample of 332 students from a range of schools including government, catholic and independent schools. The participants were stage 4 students (aged between 12 and 14 years) studying geography at school in NSW Stage 4 classrooms from diverse backgrounds. Focus group participants were teachers from schools who had implemented the resource within their classrooms throughout 2019. The focus group participants came from government, Catholic and independent schools and had a range of experience in teaching geography.