Investigation of preschool and classroom teachers' views about application of challenging experiences and self efficacy during scientific field trips

Scientific field trips are one of the important educational strategies like drama, game, project based learning and role-play. Developing information technology provides important benefıts for first hand experiences for permanent learning activity. In this study; examining of preschool and classroom teachers' views about application of challenging experiences and self-efficacy during scientific field trips are targeted. Qualitative and quantitative research methods are used to obtain results accurately. Sampling region is selected as preschool and classroom teachers who are working in the borders of Istanbul city. As a result of study, self-efficacy levels are obtained depends on age, experience level, graduate level. The scores of self-efficacy were calculated by using t- test and ANOVA. Teachers' perceived self-efficacy was compared based on teacher gender, whether school is preschool or primary school. According to the results of the analyses, it was found no difference based on gender and based on whether it is preschool or primary school. It was found a significant difference in perceived self-efficacy levels based on school type whether it is state school or private school. Teachers' perceived self-efficacy levels are analyzed based on age, experience level and type of school by using ANOVA. It was found no difference in self-efficacy levels according to these factors. In addition, teachers' reported difficulties during scientific field trips were obtained by using qualitative method. According to the result of qualitative analysis, it was found that the benefits of scientific field trips are effective learning, experiential learning, learning in the field, and development of creativity. According to the qualitative analyses, teachers' reported motivation reasons for scientific field trips are providing students experience, learning the environment, providing to the students opportunity to adopt to the environment, positive guidance, and effective learning. In addition, teachers reported that there are some difficulties based on transportation, planning trips and students' attention span. Keywords: Scientific field trips, qualitative research methods, quantitative research methods, self-efficacy level