Investigation of prospective science teachers' opinions and sensitivity towards environment

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine social and academic sensibilities, and opinions on environmental problems and environmental education among prospective teachers attending in a science education program. In this study, the survey method was used. The study group of the study consisted of 88 prospective science teachers from the first and fourth year of study at the Erciyes University Faculty of Education in the fall semester of 2018-2019. "Environmental Problems and Environmental Education Questionnaire" were used to collect data. SPSS 22 package program was used to analyze the data. As a result of the study, it was stated that prospective science teachers' opinions about environmental problems and environmental education were taken into consideration. Besides, it was concluded that participants' opinions on social and academic susceptibility sub-dimension did not vary significantly as per grade level variable and the significance level was not found between prospective teachers' social sensitivities and their academic sensibilities. Suggestions have been made on the teaching of environmental issues to prospective teachers.