Misconceptions of science teacher candidates about work

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the knowledge related to concept of 'Work' of teacher candidates who are freshmen in the program of Science Teaching and to reveal the misconceptions if there are any. The study group covered 131 teacher candidates who study 1st grade at Science Teaching Education Department in Educational Faculty of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University. In order to determine their knowledge related to 'Work' concept in a reliable and valid method, by distinguishing it from lack of knowledge, mistakes and prediction, five questions with three phase were used. The answers to the questions were presented by classifying them according to their similarities. The results of the study show that the teacher candidates have misconceptions about the concept of 'Work'. It can be said that one of the reasons for the teacher candidates to have these misconceptions is the fact that they confuse 'Work' concept in daily life with the work in its real meaning in physics, and that they confuse the concepts Work and Power.