Pre-service biology teachers’ perception of global warming, greenhouse effect and ozone layer depletion in Lagos State University

Abstract

The study examined the crux about global warming, greenhouse effect and ozone layer depletion among pre-service biology teachers. A survey questionnaire adapted from Kalipit, Yener & Ozkadif (2009); Rye, Ruba & Wiesenmayer (1997) and Boyes, Chambers & Stanisstreet (1995) was administered to 65 pre-service Biology teachers purposively selected from the Department of Science and Technology Education, Lagos State University, Lagos. This was to determine the pre-service biology teachers’ perceptions about global warming, greenhouse effect and ozone layer depletion. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that pre-service Biology teachers had misconceptions that the results of thinning of ozone layer will increase greenhouse effect and the function of ozone layer is to protect the earth against excessive heat. Furthermore, majority of the preservice biology teachers had misconceptions on global warming, ozone layer depletion and greenhouse effect. It is imperative, therefore to proffer solutions to these misconceptions held by the pre-service teachers by ensuring that instructors and instructional materials emphasize the importance of these concepts to life ensuring that students have adequate knowledge about the concepts as well as ways of tackling these challenges.

Keyword: Global warming, greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion, pre-service biology teachers, misconceptions.