Recycling awareness education: Its impact on knowledge levels of science teacher candidates

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the impact of waste recycling education given to Science Teacher candidates for sustainable improvement of their knowledge levels about waste and recycling. The study was designed according to the single group pretest-posttest experimental design in line with the main purpose of the study. The sample of the study consists of 30 volunteer Science Teacher candidates studying in 3rd and 4th grade in Science Teaching Department of Faculty of Education. Recycling Knowledge Test developed by the researcher was used as a data collection tool in the study. Within the scope of the study, 30 Science Teacher candidates were educated for 10 weeks. Pre-test and post- tests were applied to teacher candidates before and after the course. In the study, the data obtained from the Recycling Knowledge Test was analyzed by content analysis. As a result of the study, it has been seen that knowledge levels of Science Teacher candidates on recycling have increased and that teacher candidates’ behaviors towards recycling changed positively. © 2019, International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education. All rights reserved.