03/08/2024
By Zakkiyya Witherspoon

The School of Education invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by Michelle Maria Kaczowka “College Students' Climate Change Knowledge and Engagement Through Musical Intervention.”

Candidate: Michelle Maria Kaczowka
Degree: Doctoral- Leadership in Education
Defense Date: Friday, March 15, 2024
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Coburn Hall Room 245
Thesis/Dissertation Title: "College Students' Climate Change Knowledge and Engagement Through Musical Intervention”

Dissertation Committee

  • Chair: Jill Hendrickson Lohmeier, Ph.D.,Professor & Faculty Chair, School of Education Co-director, Center for Program Evaluation, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Iman Chafik Chahine, Ph.D., Professor, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Shanna Rose Thompson, Ed.D.,Center for Program Evaluation Manager, Adjunct Professor, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Abstract
As teachers face barriers to communicating climate science, new ways of communicating and teaching are needed. This study explored new ways to educate about climate change while addressing the literature gap for how sound can communicate information about climate change and be used to increase learning and engagement. The purpose was to learn to what extent music can enhance online interventions about climate change by comparing learning and engagement for college students participating in an online climate change educational intervention with or without music. The study, in addressing using music to educate about climate change, may pave the way for future research and pedagogical decisions on the use of music in climate change education interventions. Suggested areas for future research include the use of short interventions with or without music in the context of long-term interventions and the role of short interventions with or without music in audience engagement with climate change, possibly in informal learning settings.