Field trip to Kazdagi national park: Views of prospective biology teachers

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the views of the prospective biology teachers about the field trip to Kazdagi National Park. Participants were 12 prospective Biology teachers studying in Necatibey Faculty of Education in Balikesir University, Turkey. A semi-structured interview form was used as a data collection instrument. Data were analyzed by descriptive and content analyses techniques. The study results revealed that the students' views and expectations about the aims of the field trip were to a large extent fulfilled. The students were most impressed by Sarikiz Hill, the Legend of Sarikiz, and by being able to see the Kazdagi fir. They were able to learn in practice what they had learned in theory in the course, such as in Systematic Botany and Biogeography. They suggested that the students should be given preliminary information about plants, endemic plants and what was observed in Kazdagi, and the field trips should be well-planned.