مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Attitudes to Teaching Profession and Field Knowledge Levels of the Geography Teacher Candidates Taking Pedagogical Formation Education

Abstract :

Teachers are acknowledged to be the most effective factor in making educational system, educational policies and curriculum programs functional and creating the desired student model since teachers are the closest agents assisting the students. The way for any teacher to attain the aspired success is closely linked to his/her field knowledge level and the quality of his/her teaching gained through field education in college years. The objective of present research is to demonstrate with respect to several variables the attitudes of geography department graduate prospective teachers taking pedagogic formation training towards teaching profession and the level of their field knowledge This is a descriptive study which aims to determine the attitudes of geography department graduate prospective teachers taking pedagogic formation training towards teaching profession and the level of their field knowledge. Sample of the research is comprised of a total of 159 prospective teachers having graduated from geography departments and currently taking pedagogic formation training in Ahi Evran University (38,3%), Karabük University (41,5%) and Uşak University (20,2%). Also, 43,4% of the participants were female and 56,6% were male. Research findings put forth that prospective teachers’ attitudes towards teaching profession are in low level. It was also explored that prospective teachers’ attitudes in sub-dimensions such as love, value and adaptation are also in low level. To the results of the study, it can be concluded that prospective teachers’ attitudes towards teaching profession are low in parallel with their field knowledge level as a result of insufficient geography education. It is of vital priority to restructure Teacher Training Faculties and warrant the permanent continuity of the practice. The student should be aware that once s/he starts the faculty, s/he will graduate as a prospective teacher. To boost prospective teachers’ positive attitude towards teaching profession and their field knowledge level teaching profession must be endowed with attractive assets. Additionally academically bright students should be motivated to put teaching faculties into their first options.