Preservice Teachers’ Comprehension of Renewable Energy Sources

Abstract

This study aims to identify pre-service teachers’ comprehension of renewable energy sources. The study was conducted with a qualitative research method. 33 pre-service teachers included in the study group. Purposeful sampling method was used in choosing the participants in the study. The study data were collected through 15-20-minute semi-structured interviews. The interview form containing questions prepared by the researchers on why to prefer renewable energy sources, whether or not the use of renewable energy sources was necessary and how to promote the use of those sources was used in the interviews. The interviews were held outside the classroom by one of the researchers. All the interviews were voice recorded by taking consent of the participants. The data obtained from the interviews were transcribed and then put to computer by the other researcher and analysed by content analysis. During the analysis, themes were created after the codes and categories were determined. After that, the data were divided into themes. The findings were considered in three themes and the results obtained were evaluated generally. Although it was considered result that the pre-service teachers stated their views in three different themes, the fact that the low rates of the views stated can be interpreted as that their comprehension of the renewable energy sources is inadequate.