Determination of the opinions of prospective science teachers about the planned trip to the sugar factory

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to determine the opinions of pre-service science teachers about the planned trip to the sugar factory. This study was carried on phenomenology method which is one of the qualitative research methods. The study was carried out with the fourth year students of pre-service science teaching in Erciyes University in 2018-2019 academic year.The data were obtained with semi-structured open-ended questions. The document analysis used in the research was controlled by a science teacher and a science education expert. Codes were generated from the pre-service science teachers' views using content analysis. In the study, it was concluded that out-of-school learning environments have positive effects on science learning and these trips provide permanent and meaningful learning when included in the program. In addition, it was found that out-of-school learning environments concretize knowledge, and discovering new places increases students' desire for science. As students gain experience and make inferences by making observations in out-of-school learning environments, excursions related to courses should be organized.

Keywords: Informal learning environments, Kayseri Sugar factory, phenomenology, pre-service science teacher