ERIC Number: EJ1293566
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2146-0353
EISSN: N/A
Relationship between the Attitudes of Pre-School Teacher Candidates towards Environmental Issues and Their Self-Efficacy Beliefs about Environmental Education
Review of International Geographical Education, v10 n4 p706-727 Win 2020
This study aims to determine the self-efficacy beliefs and attitudes of pre-school teacher candidates towards environmental education and to examine the relationship between these two variables. The research was conducted based on an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. The participants of the study are 114 pre-school teacher candidates studying at a state university in the central Anatolia region during the 2019-2020 academic year. In the study, quantitative data was collected using the attitude scale towards environmental issues, and a self-efficacy scale for environmental education, while qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 35 teacher candidates. Quantitative data were analyzed in the SPSS program using statistical analyses suitable for research problems. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. As a result, it was found that the self-efficacy beliefs and attitudes of pre-school teacher candidates in environmental education were moderate. While these factors do not show a significant difference by gender, they show a significant difference compared to the variables of self-efficacy in taking previous courses related to environmental education and giving a course related to environmental education in the future. In addition, it has been found that there is a positive relationship between self-efficacy beliefs in environmental education and in attitudes towards environmental issues. The results obtained in the interviews are consistent with these results. As a result of the research, recommendations were made such as providing courses related to environmental education at all levels of education; and providing opportunities for pre-school teacher candidates to practice environmental education in the process of their university education.
Descriptors: Correlation, Preschool Education, Preservice Teachers, Student Attitudes, Knowledge Level, Self Efficacy, Prior Learning, Environmental Education, Conservation (Environment), Public Colleges, Foreign Countries
Review of International Geographical Education. Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Meselik Campus, Eskisehir City, 26480, Turkey. Tel: +90-222-239-37-50; Tax: +90-222-229-31-24; Web site: http://www.rigeo.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Turkey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A