Prospective Science Teachers’ Understanding about the Relations between Industrial Fields, Professions and Chemistry


As of the central sciences, Chemistry has a close relationship with industry. This relationship seems to be essential for STEM career awareness. This study aims to determine the prospective science teachers’ understandings about the relationship between chemistry and industrial fields and professions. For this purpose, research questions of the study are determined as” Which industrial fields and what professions in these industrial fields do prospective science teachers associate with chemistry? How and why do prospective science teachers associate professions in the industrial fields with chemistry? In this case study conducted with seven volunteers, descriptive analysis was applied to the data collected through focus group interviews. Six thematic propositions, which reflect the participants' understanding, have been reached in line with the relations between the categories obtained under two themes: chemistry and industrial fields - chemistry and industrial professions. Within the framework of these propositions, the participants have an awareness and understanding of chemistry, which is a comprehensive science in the industrial ecosystem, and that has close relationships with the professions in industry. In the research, it was seen that prospective science teacher’s knowledge about industrial fields and profession types is limited. Some industrial professions, especially engineering, came to the fore. Also, they established a relationship between chemistry and industry through engineering. As a result, it is said that the participants have a proper understanding of the importance and necessity of chemical knowledge in the industry and related occupations. However, it is noteworthy that there is no result for chemistry skills in the findings. Theoretical and practical studies can be suggested about providing an adequate understanding of individuals about chemistry processes, chemistry knowledge and the importance of chemistry skills in the future. This study was approved by the ethics committee of Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University with the decision dated 23.06.2020 and numbered 2020.13.50.


Keywords


Chemistry Education, Science Education, Chemistry and Industry Relationship, Chemistry Professions, Prospective Science Teachers, Chemistry Career Awareness, STEM Career Awareness

Author : Davut SARITAŞ
Number of pages: 3651-3667
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.47423/TurkishStudies.44689
Full text:
Share:
Alıntı Yap:
Atıf Sayısı: : 2
Turkish Studies-Educational Sciences
E-Mail Subscription

By subscribing to E-Newsletter, you can get the latest news to your e-mail.