Determination of Prospective Chemistry Teachers’ Opinions and Information Levels on Laboratory Safety

Abstract

Activities carried out in the laboratory provide important contributions to students in terms of developing their research, problem solving, questioning, using hand skills and communication skills. However, providing safety during the studies in the laboratory environment is extremely important. The aim of this study is to determine information level and ideas of prospective chemistry teachers on laboratory safety. Descriptive method is used in study. The sample of the research consists of 58 participants who are studying in Chemistry Teaching department. Questionnaires and informal observations were used as data collection tools. From point of view of the obtained data, scores of the students in different grades in questionnaires were compared with ANOVA. A statistically significant difference was found between the scores obtained from the questionnaire (F(3,57)=10,568; p<0,05). Independent sample t test was applied to the data to determine whether the scores obtained from the questionnaire differed in terms of gender variable. According to the gender variable, there was no statistically significant difference between the scores obtained from the questionnaire (t=0,231, p>0,05). The questionnaire results show that prospective chemistry teacher are aware of the importance of safety issues, however, the results of informal observation showed that candidates did not work in the fume cupboard when working with some volatile substances, they poured all the chemical wastes into sinks and did not check the warning signs on the tubes. For this reason, it is suggested to give information about the safety in the laboratory lessons, sometimes to remind them and to spare time to give safety information in the theoretical lessons.