ERIC Number: EJ1057848
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Dec
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0814-0626
EISSN: N/A
Pre-Service Teachers' Knowledge, Participation and Perceptions about Environmental Education in Schools
Gwekwerere, Yovita
Australian Journal of Environmental Education, v30 n2 p198-214 Dec 2014
Despite the ever-growing body of knowledge about human impact on the environment and the need to work towards a sustainable future, participation in environmental action initiatives among the general population remains low. There is an increasingly urgent need to develop a culture of participation among young people who in turn may become future leaders. This article describes a study that was undertaken to investigate pre-service teachers' environmental knowledge, their willingness to participate in environmental initiatives, and their perceptions about environmental education in schools. The study participants were pre-service teachers between the ages of 19 and 22. Data were collected through online surveys, followed by focus group interviews where pre-service teachers were given the opportunity to expand and comment on the survey responses. Findings from this study are consistent with previous research on pre-service teacher literacy, attitudes, perceptions and participation. However, the pre-service teachers' perceptions about the role of schools and adults in nurturing environmental awareness and active participation among youth provides educators with new insights for the development of a more comprehensive environmental education curriculum that focuses on integration of theory and action.
Descriptors: Environmental Education, Preservice Teachers, Student Teacher Attitudes, Knowledge Level, Attitude Measures, Online Surveys, Student Surveys, Focus Groups, School Role, Teacher Role, Student Participation, Interviews
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A