Elementary School Student Teachers' Perceptions of Sustainable Development and Education for Sustainable Development

지속가능발전과 지속가능발전교육에 대한 초등 예비 교사들의 인식

The role of teachers has been explicitly emphasized to implement the vision of sustainable development(SD). Also, it is very important to understand the way student teachers understand SD and how they interpret their own professional task in terms of SD, usually referred to as education for sustainable development(ESD). This study investigated student teachers' perceptions of SD and ESD using group interview. Key findings include, first, that they think SD as development which does not exceed the limits of natural environment, and as wise management of resources/protection of environment for future generations. They also think SD as good thing though they don't understand the contested nature of SD. Second they think ESD as education about SD, but some student teachers say they can't explain ESD. Many student teachers prefer field trip to local examples for both elementary school students and themselves. Also they will teach only what the textbook says about SD and ESD during their school placement and as teachers. So it will be the beginning of ESD in school to include SD in the curriculum for students and student teachers. It is suggested to study student teachers' perception of SD focussing on how they think the relationship between protection of environment and economic growth.