Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to investigate the practice of teacher trainees on science and the relevance of science education. The study focuses on teacher trainees' practice on science teaching and its relevance to understanding science education. Design/methodology/approach -The study employed a survey method using questionnaires. The samples consist of 80 teacher trainees, majoring in Science Education, from a teachers training institute in Malaysia. The teacher trainees were asked to complete a set of questionnaires on the relevance of their content knowledge of science to Science Education, application of student's home culture in classroom science and in infusing moral education in classroom lessons. The data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistical and inferential statistical (independent samples t-test). Findings -The results showed that the female trainees' practice of science and the relevance of science education is significantly higher than that of their male counterparts. Besides that, the findings indicate that there is no significant difference between the male and female trainees on their practices of students' home culture applied in classroom science and applying moral education in teaching science. The findings also indicated there is a need to bring in students' home culture into the teaching and learning of science. Practical implications -Findings of this paper suggest one approach that could be adopted to make science education more relevant to the students understanding is by incorporating teaching strategies that are designed to promote content learning through a cultural relevant curriculum. This will make schools a better place to inculcate environmental concerns for a sustainable future. Originality/value -This paper highlights the need to educate trainee teachers (male and female) and bring them closer to gain cooperation and commitment to achieve sustainability. The paper also proposes the need to bring in students' home culture, priorities and concern into the teaching and learning of science.

Penelitian dilakukan terhadap 40 guru yang mengajar sejarah di_Sekolah Dasar Seberang Prai Tengah, Penang. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengevaluasi efektifitas penelitian lapangan dalam meningkatkan kualitas keterampilan pedagogis guru Sejarah. Sebanyak 40 guru sejarah 20 di antaranya adalah perempuan dan 20 laki-laki lainnya dari Sekolah Menengah Seberang Prai Tengah dipilih sebagai responden untuk penelitian ini. Aspek penelitian yang diamati adalah penggunaan penelitian lapangan, pengetahuan atau informasi yang diperoleh dari penelitian lapangan, perasaan guru setelah melakukan penelitian lapangan dan efek dari program penelitian lapangan. Studi kasus di_lokasi arkeologi Lembah Bujang dan Sungai Batu, Kedah dilakukan untuk mengetahui pentingnya kelangsungan penelitian. Analisis deskriptif dan uji t digunakan. Selanjutnya, wawancara dan metode observasi digunakan pada peserta penelitian untuk memperkuat temuan penelitian. Hasil analisis menunjukkan aspek penelitian yaitu penggunaan penelitian lapangan, pengetahuan atau informasi yang diperoleh dari penelitian lapangan, perasaan guru setelah melakukan penelitian lapangan,dan pengaruh program penelitian lapangan di_situs arkeologi Lembah Bujang dan Sungai Batu di_antara guru sejarah SMA tidak signifikan. Namun, skor rata-rata yang terkait dengan dampak program penelitian lapangan di_situs arkeologi Lembah Bujang dan Sungai Batu menunjukkan bahwa guru laki-laki memiliki hubungan yang jauh lebih menyenangkan dan lebih tertarik dalam kegiatan belajar mengajar dibandingkan dengan guru perempuan.