The Relationship between Environmental Literacy and Self-efficacy Beliefs toward Environmental Education

AbstractThis study examines the level of preservice elementary teachers’ literacy and self-efficacy beliefs and investigates the relationship between their environmental literacy and self-efficacy beliefs. The sample for the study comprises 61 2nd year students in the Elementary Education Department of a private university in Turkey. The results of the study show that the participants did not have sufficient environmental knowledge or self-efficacy beliefs related to environmental education, although their environmental attitude, concern, and perception of environmental issues were relatively high. The results also indicate a significant correlation between their self-efficacy beliefs and their concern for the environment. The authors conclude that the quality of environmental education in teacher education programs in Turkey needs to be improved