An Investigation Into The Integration of Environmental Education Into Social Studies Course in Some Selected Teacher Training Institutes (T.T.Is) of Ethiopia
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Date
1994-06
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Addis Ababa Univerisity
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the
integration of environmental education into social studies
course in the T. T. Is, through examining the trainees'
environmental education competencies which involve changes
in knowledge, attitudes and skills.
To achieve the objectives of the study 321 trainees from
four T.T.Is were randomly selected. In addition to this,
the instructors of the course and the teaching materials
were considered as sources of additional data.
A 10-page questionnaire, which included: the test,
attitude inventory and rating scale, was administered. The
syllabus and the textbook of the course were analyzed and
interviews with the instructors were conducted. The data
collected were statistically treated.
The results suggested that the course seems to have some
elements of environmental education, even though they do
not measure up to the objectives and standards of the
present day environmental education program. The slight
majority of the trainees displayed mastery of environmental
knowledge as far as the test results are concerned.
However, when seen from different directions it is found to
be premature to generalize that the trainees have
foundational competency in environmental knowledge. Even
though the available information and findings alone are not
comprehensive to provide conclusive results, the trainees'
attitudes toward environmental problems, environmental
education and environment in general found to be highly
desirable. Regarding environmental skills the trainees
appeared to have a minimum competency in environmental
action skills.
In all the three cases statistically significant
differences were observed among the T. T. Is considered.
Relatively positive significant relationships were obtained
between the trainees' environmental knowledge and
environmental attitudes. On the other hand, between the
trainees' environmental knowledge and environmental skills
and between the trainees' environmental attitudes and
environmental skills no clear systematic correlations were
obtained.
Many constraints and difficulties were reported
concerning the integration of environmental topics and
activities into the course. In general a very modest and
uncoordinated teacher training effort in the area of
environmental education seemed to be the rule at every
institute studied in this inventory.
The practical implications of these findings to the
development of environmental education in the course
specifically, and in the other courses in general are
indicated.
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Keywords
Environmental Education