Nature relatedness of pre-service teachers

Abstract

In this research, it was aimed to determine the nature relatedness of pre-service primary school and science teachers regarding various variables. "Nature Relatedness Scale (NRS)", developed by Nisbet, Zelenski and Murphy (2009) and adapted to Turkish and analyzed, terms of validity by Çakır, Kararslan , Şahin and Ertenpınar (2015), was used as data collection instrument. The research was carried out with 363 pre-service teachers in Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University in the academic year of 2015-2016. The relational screening model was used in the research, in which and, statistical significance of the obtained data was determined through independent t test, one-way variance analysis Kruskal-Wallis analysis and Tukey meaningfulness tests. Research findings have indicated a; difference among the participants' nature relatedness in relation to gender, education, and grade level. However, no significant was difference found between having taken the environment lesson, membership to natural organizations, participation in natural activities nature relatedness of pre-service teachers.

Alienation from Nature and Its Impact on Primary and Pre-primary Education

“…Adult females generally report stronger fear and disgust aroused by animals than males do. Th e increase in the diff erences in the reported levels of boys' and girls' fear and disgust is proved from primary school age (Albo et al, 2019;Fančovičová, 2012;Karakaya et al, 2017).…”

“…Although a large number of authors refer to the concept of alienation in the context of pre-school and primary school education and use it as a starting point for their considerations and research work (e.g. Karakaya et al, 2017;Loureiro & Dal-Farra, 2018;Mullenbach et al, 2018;Sahin & Alici, 2019;Vácha et al, 2019;Zeyger & Kägi, 2010), alienation from nature itself is poorly explored. Th e fi rst research paper found by our method that dealt with the concept was published in 2003.…”

“…Th ey use a few basic research instruments for it. Th e Nature Relatedness Scale (Nisbet et al, 2009) was used in Turkey and in the Czech Republic (Karakaya et al, 2017;Kroufek et al, 2018;Sahin & Alici, 2019), Schultz's Nature in Self scale (Schultz, 2001;Braun & Dierkes, 2016) and Mayer & Franz's Connectedness to Nature scale (Mayer & Frantz, 2004;Mullenbach et al, 2018) were seldom used in the US. Th e scales are unsuitable for describing the attitudes of the youngest children.…”

“…Despite this fact, most of the studies that were analysed are aimed at pre-school children or school pupils, and less often at teachers, who strongly infl uence children and pupils (Barrable & Lakin, 2019;Blatt & Patrick, 2014;Ernst & Tornabene, 2012;Karakaya et al, 2017;Kroufek et al, 2018;Sahin & Alici, 2019). Even fewer papers are aimed at parents (Ahmetoğlu, 2017;Hyun 2005).…”

“…Th eir research fi ndings indicate a diff erence among the participants' relationship to nature with regard to gender, education, and grade level. However, no signifi cant eff ect of attending the environmental science lessons, membership of natural organizations, and participation in natural activities was found (Karakaya et al, 2017).…”