the comparison of 1st and 4th grade elementary education department students' knowledge, worldview toward environment and self-efficacy beliefs toward environmental education

In this study, Elementary Education Department Science Education, Primary Education, Social Sciences Education and Preschool Education Programs first class students? environmental knowledge, worldview and self-efficacy towards environmental education compared with fourth class students?. At the same time students intentions to follow nature news and views about the future of environment were investigated. In total 971 students participated survey from Dokuz Eylul and Adnan Menderes University in 2011-2012 academic year. An inventory combined by Personal Information Form, Environmental Knowledge Test, New Environmental Paradigm Scale and Self-Efficacy towards Environmental Education Scale was used as data collection tool.The results of the research showed that there are significant differences in the students? environmental knowledge levels, environmental worldviews and Academic Competence Perception subscale of Self Efficacy towards environment according to grade levels and programs of the students. Students preferred nature news at the top ranks. Students think that people have average sensitivity of environment in current and future. In general fourth year undergraduate students are more pessimistic than first year undergraduate students about the sensitivity of people towards the environment.