The Dual Role of Environmental Literacy and Spatial Intelligence in Developing Students' Ecological Problem-Solving Competencies

Fellix Rimba; Annisa Joviani Astari; Nandi; Dismo Katiandagho

doi:10.56741/IISTR.jpes.001399

Authors

Fellix Rimba
fellixrimba72@gmail.com
Universitas Negeri Manado https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2724-4147
Annisa Joviani Astari Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3312-6438
Nandi Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5994-1142
Dismo Katiandagho Poltekkes Kemenkes Manado https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4668-9144

Keywords:

Ecological Challenges, Environmental Literacy, Environmental Problem-Solving, Spatial Intelligence, Student Involvement

Abstract

Environmental problems such as waste, pollution, climate change, and the depletion of natural resources have exposed the Earth to the threat of extreme global warming. However, students often face difficulties in addressing these issues due to limited involvement in environmental activities and underdeveloped cognitive skills. This study aims to analyze how environmental literacy and spatial intelligence among high school students influence their ability to solve environmental problems. To achieve this, we conducted a questionnaire survey involving 248 students from 11th-grade social science classes. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) techniques. The findings indicate that: (1) environmental literacy has a significant influence on students’ environmental problem-solving ability, with a path coefficient of 0.317 (categorized as good); (2) spatial intelligence also influences problem-solving ability, with a coefficient of 0.422 (good); and (3) the combined structural model of environmental literacy and spatial intelligence shows a stronger influence on problem-solving ability, with a coefficient of 0.590 (categorized as high). Given these findings, it is essential to enhance students' understanding of ecological challenges by improving both their environmental literacy and spatial intelligence. This can be achieved through effective geography learning strategies and by encouraging active student participation in environmental activities. Such a holistic approach is crucial to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address and resolve pressing environmental issues effectively.

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Author Biographies

Fellix Rimba, Universitas Negeri Manado

is a lecturer and researcher in the Geography Education Department at Universitas Negeri Manado (UNIMA), specializing in Environmental Education and Sustainability. His academic work focuses on climate change, ecofeminism, and the integration of local wisdom into environmental conservation. Beyond his teaching role, he is a prominent environmental advocate, recognized as the Winner of Duta Lingkungan Indonesia 2024 and the founder of the "Budiku Negeri" advocacy platform. He is actively involved in environmental preservation activities and digital content creation aimed at promoting waste management and sustainable land resource management. (email: fellixrimba@unima.ac.id).

Annisa Joviani Astari, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

is a distinguished academic and researcher specializing in Governance for Sustainable Development and Environmental Science. She earned her Ph.D. and an M.Sc. in Environmental and Energy Management from the University of Twente, Netherlands, building upon her foundational studies in Biology and Environmental Science at Universitas Padjadjaran. Her research focus encompasses the complex dynamics of climate change, globalization, and institutional policy analysis. Additionally, she possesses specialized technical expertise in applying Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to drive sustainable development initiatives. (email: annisa.astari@upi.edu).

Nandi, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

is a distinguished Professor in the field of Regional Planning Geography and a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geography Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI). He holds a doctoral degree (Dr. rer. nat.) from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, specializing in spatial analysis, regional planning, and disaster mitigation. His academic career is marked by significant contributions to land resource management and regional development policies, alongside his leadership in graduate research supervision and curriculum innovation. He is recognized for his expertise in integrating geographical information systems with sustainable regional planning in Indonesia. (email: nandi@upi.edu).

Dismo Katiandagho, Poltekkes Kemenkes Manado

is an expert in environmental health and epidemiology, currently serving as the Head of the Environmental Health Applied Bachelor's Program (Ketua Program Studi S.Tr Kesehatan Lingkungan) at Poltekkes Kemenkes Manado. With a strong background in public health and epidemiological analysis, he leads academic initiatives focused on environmental sanitation, disease control, and community health management. His leadership is central to developing professional health practitioners within the Ministry of Health's educational framework in North Sulawesi (email: desmonk80@gmail.com).

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