SOSYAL BİLGİLER ÖĞRETMEN ADAYLARININ “KÜRESEL ISINMA” KAVRAMINA YÖNELİK METAFOR ALGILARI Metaphor Perceptions of Social Studies Teacher Candidates towards the concept of “Global Warming”

Abstract

If human beings, who are giving harm to the natural balance of the world as a consequence of the rapid industrialism experienced with industrial revolution, perpetuate a variety of activities without taking essential precautions, that climate changes caused by global warming will be run through is obviously alleged. In this respect, it is significant to take precaution in relation with this fact so that living spaces could be protected and life could be continued. For that reason, teachers, who are the architects of the future, and education institutions should participate in this process. Therefore, this study aims to reveal perceptions of social studies teacher candidates towards global warming. In this study, phenomenological method, one of the qualitative research designs, have been employed. Study group includes 115 students in Social Sciences Teaching department of the Education Faculty in Siirt University during 2011-2012 academic years. To be able to assess the perceptions of social studies teacher candidates towards “global warming”, semi-structured forms in which “Global Warming is like …. Because ….” is written have been distributed to teacher candidates, and teacher candidates have been asked to reveal their perceptions about global warming by making use of only one metaphor. Data gained during this study have been focused in accordance with content analysis. Participants have produced 42 valid metaphors about the concept of global warming, and these metaphors have been classified under 8 different categories. In the end, it has been found out that participants correctly perceive the concept of global warming; however they are not able to establish cause and effect relationship. In this point, some suggestions have been offered.