Abstract:

This study is planned to establish the misunderstandings that science teacher students have about optics. Study data was obtained from 35 sophomore students of Agri Education Faculty, Science Teaching Program during the time period of 2004-2005 fall semester, by applying a 3-tired multiple choice test, which contained 19 question articles and making interviews with ten different students. The result of the tests and interviews with students (teacher candidates) shows that students have misunderstandings about “light propagation”, “light reflection,” and “light refraction”. Student s understanding levels on these subjects are 24.3%, 58% and 25% respectively. Some misunderstandings about light refraction are; “Special beams have drawn as they are reflected from the thin and thick edged lenses” and “Speed of light is constant and has the same value in all mediums”. Some misunderstandings about reflection are; “About the formation of an object s view at plane mirror, the changes of level and the place of source of the light that illuminates the object and changes of the level and place of observer change the view that appears in the mirror” and “Special beams do not reflect but refract and pass through the mirror”. In addition, to know that teacher candidate students have a low level of understanding about light propagation, light reflection and light refraction. In order to establish these misconceptions and fix them in relative programs, representative classes are needed and this is important for science education.

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