The contribution of the social studies teacher education program to prospective teachers' disaster awareness

The aim of this study is to investigate the contribution of the Social Studies Teacher Education undergraduate program to the disaster awareness levels of prospective teachers. In this context, the study examines the impact of the knowledge and experiences gained by pre-service teachers during their undergraduate education on the development of disaster awareness. The research was conducted using a basic qualitative research design. The study group consisted of 10 senior students enrolled in the Social Studies Teacher Education program at Anadolu University. Data were collected through semi-structured interview forms and analyzed using the descriptive analysis method. The findings of the study indicate that the participants generally have a positive level of disaster awareness. The participants stated that certain courses were effective in increasing their knowledge of disaster-related topics. However, they emphasized that they lacked sufficient practical experience and highlighted the need for disaster education to be incorporated into the program in a more comprehensive and practice-based manner. In this regard, it is recommended that disaster education within the Social Studies Teacher Education undergraduate program should not remain limited to theoretical content, but should be strengthened through practical activities, drills, and fieldwork.