Examination of knowledge and skills of the pre-service science teachers about the seven principles that provide a good educational environment

ABSTRACT EXAMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF THE PRE-SERVICE SCIENCE TEACHERS ABOUT THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES THAT PROVIDE A GOOD EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT The aim of this research is to determine the information level of science teacher candidates about seven basic principles which should be present in a good learning environment, developed by Gamson and Chickering (1987). In that research, in order to fit for that purpose, in context of quantitative research methodology, non-empirical descriptive method has been used. The research sample is consisting of 2nd and 4th grade science teacher candidates studying in the Faculty of Education from Ataturk University, Bayburt University, Kafkas University and Aksaray University. In that research, seven principles developed by Chickering and Gamson, (1987), student-faculty interaction, cooperation between students, active learning, instant feedbacks, effective time usage, meeting high-level expectations and showing respect to different abilities and learning styles has been defined as a criterion and at what extent do teacher candidates benefit from these principles has been focused. As data collection content, a questionnaire with 70 items scale which in detail contains 10 items for each principle which consists of seven principle in total has been used. All data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA method with respect to teacher candidates' answers to item scales. With respect to the findings on applying the principles, the result of this study shows that teacher candidates provide more positive views who are studying in Aksaray and Atatürk University when compared with the student candidates from Kafkas and Bayburt University. The main reason of this result is considered to be originating due to sociocultural environment of the students which they belong to and due to the education system of the university. Keywords: Science education, The pre-service science teachers, Seven principles for good practice in education.