Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
International J. Soc. Sci. & Education, cilt.4, sa.4, ss.863-880, 2014 (Hakemli Dergi)
In recent years, urbanization and upsurge in the number of cities have accelerated due to technological developments, industrialization and rapidly increasing population. Because of these developments, while the natural resources are decreasing, domestic waste, one of the environmental pollutants, has begun to create an inconvenience for people in these cities. While environmental pollution, disturbing people in cities, appeared with increased population, due to inadequate education it has begun to threaten the living space of the people. This fact has led people to question the relation between environmental pollution and education once again and also reexamine the curriculum in higher education. Especially the environmental knowledge of the teacher candidates who will bring up the next generation has begun to be examined. By examining the education faculties' curriculum, whether the teacher candidates are equipped enough to raise generations whose environment awareness will be at the highest level begun to be questioned. The purpose of this study is to determine social studies teacher candidates' awareness and sensitivity towards environmental pollution and increasing them further. As a qualitative study, this study was done using the Social Studies Education students studying at Niğde University's Faculty of Education within the 20121013 academic year. Data collection tool consists of interview questions that could determine the teacher candidates' awareness and sensitivity towards depletion of natural resources and environmental pollution. Data have been evaluated by qualitative methods and interpreted within the framework of where the applied field trip was done. At the end of the study, it was found that teacher candidates know the factors that pollute the environment, what to do to while consuming tap water, potential results of leaving waste around on the environment and how to recycle the waste. It was also found that teacher candidates applied what they know into their behaviors and attitudes while separating waste at home and while shopping. Furthermore, it was found that the effects of consumption patterns on natural resources in cities and not mentioning this enough in the visual and print media have reflected adversely on the teacher candidates' behaviors. Following the field trip to the recycling facility, social studies teacher candidates' attitudes and behaviors towards the environment showed considerable change.