Abstract:

The aim of this research is to examine prospective pre-school teacher candidates' perceptions of the environment and environmental problems, and to have a vision of the participants' attitudes towards the environment and proenvironmental behaviors. Participants of the research conducted with phenomenologyo on qualitative research method are 25 teacher candidates who are educated in the third grade of pre-school teacher department of a university in Central Anatolia Region. Semi-structured interviews with participants were used as data collection tools in the research. Data obtained from interviews; codes and themes were created and analyzed by content analysis. Findings of the research show that pre-school teacher candidates are concerned about the environment and are worried about environmental problems for the environment. Participants are also more focused on pollution within environmental problems. Participants who accuse individuals as the primary cause of environmental problems; environmental problems threaten the health of the individual and the future of life. In general, it can be said that the environment supports their well-being, their love for the environment and their responsiveness to the environment are positive for the environment. Nevertheless, most of the participants stated that they frequently performed their behaviors to not pollute the environment and to warn the environmentally harmful individuals. In addition to this, other eco-friendly behaviors that teacher candidates participating in the research expressed their achievements; water and electricity saving, participation in environmental activities, tree planting and recycling. According to these results, environmental education will be realized to support and develop preschool pre-service teachers' attitudes towards the environment and environmentally friendly behaviors. In addition, the results of the study showed that the level of knowledge about the environmental problems of the individual should be increased.

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