• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.108-121
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• 2024

In this study, we developed a sustainability education program employing a project-based learning strategy for prospective teachers and investigated its effectiveness. A total of 23 senior students from a university of education participated in the study. The investigation involved a pretest on their pro-environmental behavior and attitudes, followed by a five-week implementation of the program, during which students individually engaged in energy-saving projects. Following the program, a post-test, which used the same questionnaire as the pretest, was administered. In addition, we conducted individual interviews with nine students who actively engaged in the projects. We analyzed the interview contents, portfolios, and reports; identified sub-concepts related to the program's effectiveness and its causes; and then organized them into subcategories. Then, we extracted recurring relationships among the subcategories to formulate a tentative explanatory model. The results indicate that the program positively impacted students' pro-environmental behavior and values/attitudes. Notably, the students' "sense of achievement gained through success" emerged as a significant factor influencing their pro-environmental behavior. Furthermore, some causes were found to indirectly affect pro-environmental behavior through pro-environmental values and attitudes.