The effect of transformative learning model based environmental education on pre-service biology teachers' perceptions of the environmental problems

The aim of the present study is to identify the effects of transformative learning model based environment education on pre-service biology teachers' perceptions of environment. The research model was designed as a mixed method comprising quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative dimension was examined through an experimental method whereas the qualitative dimension was examined through a case study. The research was carried out in two stages: piloting and the main study. The piloting was performed with the participation of 28 pre-service biology teachers in Fall 2011 for 14 weeks at Gazi University, Gazi Faculty of Education, Biology Education Department. The main study was carried out with the participation of 28 pre-service biology teachers in Spring 2012 for 14 weeks at Gazi University, Biology Education Department.Attitudes to Environmental Problems Questionnaire, Environmental Problems Knowledge Test, Environmentally Friendly Behavior Test and Environmental Beliefs Scale were used in the collection of quantitative data, whereas Activity Evaluation Forms, Student Diaries, Environment Biographies and Semi-Structured Interview Form were used in the collection of qualitative data. Quantitative data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test and Eta square on SPSS 18. As for the qualitative data, they were analyzed by means of content analysis and expressed as frequency and percentage; NVivo 9 was used in the formation of thematic codes.At the end of the study, it was found out that the experimental group to which transformative learning model was applied differed significantly from the control group to which the traditional method was applied in terms of levels of environmental v problems attitude levels, environmental problems knowledge levels, environmental belief levels and environmentally friendly behavior levels. The interviews carried out at the end of the practices revealed that there were differences in the experimental group's knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors related to the environment. Suggestions were made in light of the findings obtained from the study.Key Words: Transformative learning, environmental education, environmental attitude, knowledge of environmental problems, environmentally-sensitive behavior