The use of out-of-the-school learning environments for the formation of scientific attitudes in teacher training programmes

Abstract

The current research employing a case study, one of the qualitative research designs aims to examine the effects of out-of-the-school learning environments on prospective teachers' scientific attitudes. Maximum sampling, a purposeful sampling method, was employed in this research, and the study group was composed of the students attending the faculty of education. The data were collected through the "Scientific Attitudes Views Form" (SAVF) developed by the researcher, and were subject to content analysis. Consequently, it was found that out-of-the-school learning environments, especially science centers, had positive influences in students' attitudes towards science. Moreover, it was also found that the students established associations between science and daily life and that they were of the opinion that science was necessary for comprehending nature/environment and for facilitating the life. Following the application, the number of students wishing to be a scientist was seen to increase; which was supportive of the findings. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu