Pre-service teacher?s perception level of basic concepts about freshwater ecosystems in environmental education

This study is related to the investigation of the success of the pre-service teachers in freshwater aquatic concepts and their attitudes towards the environment. The universe of the study was constituted by the students studying in Science, Primary education, Biology teaching departments of Gazi Education Faculty of Gazi University. The sample included the 3rd and 4th year students of Science Teaching department, 2nd and 3rd year students of Primary Education Department and 4th and 5th year students of Biology Teaching departments who take a course on environment.The sampling group was subjected simultaneously to environmental attitude test and conceptual success test in spring term of 2006-2007 academic year. The data obtained were analyzed with the use SPPS statistical software which revealed following results:-There wasn?t any statistically significant difference in the environmental attitudes of the university students as regards to the department they were studying-It was observed that there was a significant difference between the environmental attitudes of the university students as regards to gender. Girls were observed to be much more sensitive towards the environmental aspects compared to the boys.-It was observed that the conceptual success rate of the students related to the fresh water aquatic concepts was greatly effected by the departments and the academic years of the students.-The gender difference was observed to be not effective upon on the conceptual success rates of the students as regards to the fresh water aquatic concepts.Key Words: Environmental Science, Environmental Attitudes, Freshwater ecosystems