Exploring Pre-Service Elementary Teachers’ Mental Models of the Environment

Year 2015, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 21 - 39, 14.09.2015

Fatma Taskın-ekıcı , Erhan Ekıcı Hulusi Cokadar

https://doi.org/10.18497/iejee-green.35212

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to explore pre-service elementary teachers’ understandings of the environment. A survey method was carried out in this study. A close-ended questionnaire and Draw-An-Environment Test (DAET) are administered to pre-service teachers (N=255) after instruction of an Environmental Education course. A rubric (DAET-R) is used for assessing the mental models or images of the environment held by pre-service teachers. Results of this study suggest that the participants’ mental models of the environment are incomplete. Majority of participants’ drawings reflect biotic and abiotic environment. Few drawings include human beings as a part of the environment. The results shows that mean scores do not differ regarding to gender, environmental education background, high school type, parental education level, parental occupation, and monthly family income.

Key words:   Mental model, environment, education, pre-service teachers, drawing

Keywords

Mental model, environment, education, pre-service teachers, drawing

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• Draw an Environment Test (DAET)
• Date: ______________ ID#_______________
• In the space below draw a picture of what you think the environment is. Below that, please
• provide your definition of the environment (in words). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• My drawing of the environment is: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• My definition of the environment is: