The roles of active teaching methods in environmental education for geography in secondary schools

No studies about ?active teaching methods for Environmental Education in Geography? are found when the national literature has been searched. It is seen that environmental education researches in the nationally published reviews are all about primary and secondary science lesson. In higher education, there are researches on Chemistry and Biology Education. In this concept, we have seen the necessity of investigating the effects of active teaching methods that are used in teaching of environmental subjects in ?Ministry of Education Secondary School Grade 1 Geography Curriculum?, on students? levels of environmental knowledge and attitudes. Moreover, in this research, practicability of teaching Environmental Education in Geography by active teaching methods in secondary schools is aimed to be determined by the help of Geography teachers? opinions. In this research, the active teaching methods for Environmental Education in Geography which are used in 2005-2006 at the first time, are aimed to be evaluated. However, in this research, Environmental Education that is rapidly improving, is aimed to be developed. Also, the next generation is aimed to be grown up having an environmental awareness. The research is also important because it includes the results of teacher sufficiency, curricula and teaching methods that effect the teaching of Environmental Education in Geography for secondary schools and make the Environmental Education being used in all aspects of life. For this reason, it will provide important contributes for national and international researches in the future.The topic of the research is teaching of environmental subjects in Geography for the first grade of secondary school students. Survey method has been employed to determine the effects of active teaching methods on students. The practicability of environmental subjects that are taught with active teaching methods in secondary schools are also going to be determined by getting the opinions of teachers. To evaluate students? environmental awareness, their attitudes and knowledge levels were taken into consideration. Afterwards, by using experimental method for students? improvement between test-control groups has been compared. Gathered data has been analyzed in computer based system by using SPSS. The phases in this research are: the search of literature, the preparation and application of the questionnaire, inputting data by SPSS, analyzing data, the interpretation and the period of preparing a report. This research was conducted among 840 secondary education students and 20 Geography teacher.The findings of this research revealed that there was a positive effect of active teaching model on secondary education students? environmental knowledge and attitudes. It can be also noted that the approaches of active learning were significantly effective on communication and active participation of students than traditional teaching approach.But the materials and physical conditions of the classroom cannot be ignored.