Prospective biology teachers’ views about field trip to national park

Abstract

Manyas Bird Paradise National Park has an international importance as water birds migrating from Africa to Europe and Asia are located on main migration routes. The purpose of the study was to investigate the prospective biology teachers’ views on the field trip to Manyas Bird Paradise National Park, Turkey. A case study design was used in the study. Participants included 31 prospective biology teachers studying in Necatibey Faculty of Education in Balikesir University, Turkey in the spring term of 2017-2018 academic years. Data were collected by an open-ended questionnaire and analyzed by content analyses technique. The study results showed that the students’ aims to participate the field trip partly fulfilled after the field trip. It was observed that the students’ expectations were met, especially birds and social activity. One of the benefits of field trip was to contribute theory that the students learnt in their courses. The students made some suggestions, particularly to see more bird species and watch them closely in the study.