Effect of problem based learning method in promoting environmental consciousness in candidate social studies teachers

This study has been done with candidate social studies teachers within ?Environmental Problems Geography? class at Primary Education Department. In this study, the impact of problem based learning (PBL) method and traditional teaching methods has been searched over following items:a)academic achievement of students about getting solutions to environmental problems,b)environmental problem solving abilities of students,c)creativity of students about getting solutions to environmental problems.Research has been designed in experimental design model. Problem based learning method was used in experimental group and traditional teaching methods were used in control group.Environmental achievement test, problem solving inventory and creativity scale are the means used in data collection in this study. The measurement tools that had been developed were applied to 64 students in two groups. The students were chosen from Gazi University, Gazi Faculty of Education, Social Studies Education Department. For examination of statistical assumptions, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Levene tests were used. Paired samples t-test and independent samples t-test which are parametric tests were used for comparison related with hypothesis tests.Findings of the research proved that problem based learning method is more successful than traditional teaching methods in terms of getting solutions for environmental problems from students. It has been also found that PBL is more sufficient than traditional teaching techniques about increasing students? problem solving abilities. Nevertheless both PBL and traditional ones didn?t have an impact over increasing students? creativity abilities.According to the research data, it is suggested that problem based learning (PBL) method has to be used in all classess including environmental issues. Students told that they adopted this method, they could discuss freely in the first time and in this way the class was permanent. Consequently it is believed that using PBL method in other classess including environmental issues will have an efficient role in educating teachers who have environmental consciousness.