Opinions of Social Studies Teacher Education Students a bout the Impact of Environmental Education on Ecological Literacy

Abstract

In the century we live in, the level of environmental awareness, environmental knowledge, and ecological literacy of
Social Studies teacher education candidates is of great importance to raise individuals who possess high ecological
culture and environment al sensitivity. The research was carried out with a phenomenological pattern from qualitative
research methods. The study group of research was determined by criterion sampling, which is a purposeful sampling
method. The study group consists of 15 teacher education students who studied in the Department of Turkish and
Social Sciences Education, Department of Social Studies Education and took the environmental education course in a
Faculty of Education at a university in Turkey during the 2019 2020 academic years. The research data was obtained
through a semi structured interview form. The research data were analyzed by the content analysis method and
evaluated with a qualitative data analysis program. One of the most important results obtained from this rese arch
includes that Social Studies teacher education students correctly perceive the concepts of Environmental Education
and ecological literacy overall. Also, it is seen that Social Studies teacher education students stated that Environmental
Education can provide development in their cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions such as information and
increased consciousness about resource consumption, environmental awareness and sensitivity, problem solving,
understanding about sustainability, positive attitudes and behavioral development and changes and that will positively
affect the ecological literacy levels of an individual. For this reason, the concepts of Environmental Education and
ecological literacy should be emphasized because it is necessary for ecological literacy to be explained to the students
and projects should be carried out accordingly