1. The efficacy of national earthquake education programs in Israel: Notes from a diachronic ethnographic study Presented at: 7th International Conference on Building Resilience Using scientific knowledge to inform policy and practice in disaster risk reduction

2. The efficacy of national earthquake education programs in Israel: Notes from a diachronic ethnographic study

3. Researchers: Dr. Joshua Schmidt, Anthropology Dr
Researchers: Dr. Joshua Schmidt, Anthropology Dr. Hanan Ginat, Geology Dr. Yaron Finzi, Geology Dr. Avigail Morris, Anthropology Dr. Carmit Cohen, Education
Funded by the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology in coordination with the Israeli National Emergency Authority (INEA)

4. National Earthquake Preparation Program (2011)
Background
National Earthquake Preparation Program (2011)
Ministry of Education & Home Front Command (HFC)
Twin Goals:
(1) Theoretical and Practical knowledge for preparing and responding to earthquakes within the school context;
(2) ‘Readiness Agents’ on the domestic front
=>Educational Intervention in 5th grade via HFC Instructors

5. Aims of the Study
1. Monitor Nation EQ Education Program (5th graders) 2. Develop and operate supplementary EQ Education Program w/in the context of 8th grade geography class 3. Organizational and Pedagogical suggestions for improvement and increased efficiency of the national program

6. Israeli Southern Periphery
Tel-Aviv-Jaffa
Research Field:
Israeli Southern Periphery
Mediterranean Sea
Jerusalem
Dead Sea
Ein Gedi
Pop. Size
Type of Settlement
Locale
50,000
City
Eilat
5,500
Town
Mitzpe Ramon
3,300
Rural
Eilot (Arava)
Tamar (Dead Sea)
Beer Sheva
Tamar
Mitzpe Ramon
Arava Desert
Yotvata
Eilat

7. Quantitative Research
Two phases of Ethnographic Inquiry
Observation of 5th grade lessons
Interviews with School Staff
In parallel:
Interface detected between 5th grade lessons & Junior High Geography
Earthquake preparation lessons developed for 8th graders
In conjunction with Ministry of Education
Lessons introduced at a national seminar for geography teachers
Pilot classes taught to students within the research domain

8. Qualitative Research
11 schools, 23 classrooms
2000 Questionnaires – Before/After/After 3 months
Researchers measured awareness, knowledge of EQs &
students’ proper preparation for them

9. General Results After 3 months Just After Before Time Frame 44.5% 54%
Levels of knowledge before and after the lessons
“The degree of success of the lessons depends largely on the charisma and abilities of the HFC instructors. The school has no ability to check the content and the accuracy of what is being taught.” (Elementary school principal, Eilat)
After 3 months
Just After
Before
Time Frame
44.5%
54%
37%
Average

10. Ethnographic Symposium, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel (November, 2016)

11. Telling Quotes from the Field I
“It seems clear that the national program is not receiving its due respect; We need to strengthen and incorporate the program within the ongoing teacher curriculum…The students should be experiencing the lessons differently” (Amir Yahav, Chairman of the National Steering Committee for the Preparation for Earthquakes in Israel)
“The scientific explanations are too intricate; we need to rework the HFC instructors’ lessons so that they cater for the students” (Avi Shapira, geologist and former Chairman of the National Steering Committee for the Preparation for Earthquakes in Israel)
“An active student becomes a learning student” (Nurit H., Former principal of Eilat Mountains Elementary School)
“In the hour of crisis, it will be the homeroom teachers and not the [HFC] instructors who will be there with the students” (Head of Security in the Arava School District)

12. Telling Quotes from the Field II
“What was true 10 years ago, does not fit with the current-day reality” (Head of Dept. of Security and Emergencies, Ministry of Education)
“We are living in an era of accelerated change” (8th Geography Teacher, Eilat)
“We should increase the cooperation between the schools and the HFC, the schools need to help out with the educational intervention; We should also be working to increase parents’ input as this is one of the keys to the success of the program” (Emergency Education advisor to the HFC)
“The way forward is not always clear, we should be continually rethinking [our course] and be attentive to the [needs/interests of the] youngsters” (Brigadier General Betzalel Treiber, Head of Israeli National Emergency Authority (INEA),

13. Joshua@adssc.org Thanks for listening….
(GIS Seismic Map, Israel Environs)