NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION OF FUTURE TEACHERS IN THE CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Abstract

This article discusses the problematic issues of natural science training of future teachers of preschool, primary and vocational education in the field of environmental problems. The authors conducted a long experimental study (2015-2022). The article presents its results and their analysis. The main objectives of the study were: to identify student’s understanding of the essence of ecology, the degree of awareness of the environmental problems of the modern world, their causes and consequences, the role of the teacher in shaping the ecological worldview of children; revealing the attitude of students to different areas of natural science knowledge (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology); search for ways to improve the quality of natural science training of future teachers. The study involved more than 500 students of 1-4 courses of full-time, part-time and distance learning in the specialties "Primary Education", "Pre-school Education", "Speech Therapy", "Oligophrenopedagogy", "Social and psycho-logical-pedagogical assistance", "Social Work". The analysis carried out showed the high motivation of future teachers to solve real environmental problems, their involvement in environmental activities and the desire to carry out environmental education and upbringing of children. At the same time, the insufficient natural science training of some students causes difficulty in understanding modern concepts of natural science, a decrease in the reliability of information detection, unwillingness to be critical on their own to navigate the flow of natural science and environmental information, to systematize and effectively use it in their future professional activities. Based on the results of the study and the experience of teaching mathematics and natural science, the authors suggest ways to improve the quality of the natural science training of future teachers