The effect of cooperative learning approach on preservice science and technology teachers? attitude towards environment

The purpose of this study is to i) determine the effect of cooperative learning approach to the science and technology preservice teachers? environmental consciousness and ii) to reveal the difference between males and females in terms of the environmental consciousness. The participants of the study consist of 69 students(38 female,31 male) who were at Abant İzzet Baysal University, department of primary science teaching in 2006-2007 teaching year.In this study, the main principles of cooperative learning approach that also been empahsised in the new science and technology curriculum were taken into consideration. After preliminary studies, the participants gave several presentations about the topics related to ecology unit in the course of biology II that is six hours in a week.In this study Environmental Consciousness Scale (ECS) was used to determine preservice science and technology teachers? environmental consciousness. The ECS that is arranged as seven likert type was originally developed by Milfont and Duckit and an adaptation study was carried out. At the end of the adaptation study the final version of the ECS appeared as follows: 6 subdivisions in total with 53 items including The taste of the nature (9 Sections), Enviromental acts (9 Sections), Enviromental threats (10 Sections), The benefits of the humans from nature ( 10 Sections ), The confidence to science and technology (8 Sections), To support the policy of the population increase( 7 Sections). The ECS is given as a pre and post test to the participants.The data obtained from the participants were analyzed by using SPSS15.0 program. The results revealed that there is a statistically significant difference between pre test and post test indicating that the cooperative learning approach made a positive effect on participants? environmantal consciousness. In terms of analysing the subdvisions in the ECS, the statistically significant difference appeared between pre and post ECS in following subdivisions: the taste of the nature, enviromental threats, the benefits of human from the nature and the confidence to science and technology. However, there was not any statistically significant difference between pre and post ECS the other two following subdivisions. The results also indicated that there is no difference between males and females in terms of the environmental consciousness. The implications of the results obtained from the ECS and from written questions were discussed for a better environmental teaching and learning and remedy the problems related to the curriculum. Some suggestions were also proposed in the light of the results.Key words: Environmental education, cooperative learning approach, environmental consiousness scale, science and technology preservice teachers