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Integrating Sustainability Into Early Childhood Education Through In-service Training: An Effort Towards Transformative Learning

The aim of this study is twofold, first is to create an in-service training example that can be conducted with childhood education teachers in framework of transformative
learning towards learning for sustainability and education for sustainable development. Second aim of study is to investigate effects and contributors of created transformative
learning example on participants&rsquo / perspective transformation. 24 teachers were involved as convenient sample in this research. Research methodology combined two basic data
gathering and analysis methods. Sample group participated in seven half day in-service training, at the end of training initial inquiry was conducted by using Learning Activities Survey with all participants and it was continued with 6 follow-up interviews. Assessment tool and interview format were developed by Kathleen P. King (1997) and were translated
in Turkish and adapted for the use of this research.
The results of this research revealed that 100% of participants experienced perspective transformation at varying degrees in relation to in-service training conducted.The most telling findings indicate that: (a) perspective transformation learning experiences
include major shifts in learner&rsquo / s understanding of his/her life and world, (b) journey of transformative learning differs among learners, (c) sampled population experienced some
changes in their perspective of their beliefs, assumptions and points of view as well as they transitioned to a more differentiated frame of reference which is related with
sustainability, (d) both classroom assignments and support were noted as important contributors of perspective transformation, (e) discussions, group projects, critical
thinking activities, self-evaluation of participants and unconventional structure of training, support of trainer, support from others and challenge from trainer were evaluated as main contributors to perspective transformation.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:METU/oai:etd.lib.metu.edu.tr:http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12612720/index.pdf
Date01 December 2010
CreatorsFeriver Gezer, Sebnem
ContributorsOlgan, Refika
PublisherMETU
Source SetsMiddle East Technical Univ.
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeM.S. Thesis
Formattext/pdf
RightsTo liberate the content for public access

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