Using Science Centers and Museums for Teacher Training in Turkey

Abstract

This study was aimed to determine pre-service teachers' views about science centers and museums, as out-of-the-school learning environments, through case study. For that purpose, the pre-service teachers were provided to participate in out-of-the-school learning environments which were designed in a structured way, and their attitudes and views were studied at the end of the process. The results showed that they held positive views with regard to the activities related to science centers and museums. Besides, pre-service teachers' attitude averages were positive both in overall evaluation and under the theme of attitudes toward science and technology course. As positive views they said that activities were visual, permanent knowledge formed in consequence of the activities, they would be able to use the knowledge they had obtained in daily life, they had the opportunity to apply one-to-one, and that they were able to acquire new knowledge. On the other hand, the fact that the activities were too much in number, some of them took much time, and participants were too many was reported as the disadvantage.