Developing the systems thinking skills of pre-service science teachers through an outdoor ESD course

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to explore the development of pre-service science teachers’ systems thinking skills through an outdoor education for sustainable development (ESD) course. The study was composed of four stages, which are defining systems thinking skills, designing an outdoor ESD course, developing measurement tools, and implementation. Twelve systems thinking skills were determined within the ESD and science education context. Qualitative data were collected through interviews and systems thinking skill levels were evaluated based on the rubric developed by the authors. Participants showed a slow improvement in four systems thinking skills which are related to considering the relationship between past, present and future, developing empathy with non-human beings, developing sense of place and adapting systems thinking perspective to personal life. There is a need to test the hierarchical level among the twelve systems thinking skills in future studies and to study each skill in different contexts.

KEYWORDS:

• Systems thinking skills
• outdoor education
• education for sustainable development
• pre-service science teachers

Acknowledgments

This study is derived from the first author’s PhD dissertation completed at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey under the supervision of the second author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Güliz Karaarslan Semiz

Güliz Karaarslan Semiz is an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Science Education at Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University in Turkey. Semiz’s research focuses on environmental education, education for sustainability, science teacher education, outdoor learning and systems thinking.

Gaye Teksöz

Gaye Teksöz is a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Science Education at Middle East Technical University. Teksöz’s research focuses on environmental education, education for sustainability and climate change education for sustainability.