Pre-Service Physics Teacher^s Knowledge and Attitude: An Investigation on Nuclear Science and Technology Topics
SRI HARTINI1,2*, ADE GAFAR ABDULLAH1, LILIASARI1, PARLINDUNGAN SINAGA1, TOPAN SETIADIPURA3, MUHAMMAD KUNTA BIDDINIKA4

1 Postgraduate School, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Indonesia
2 Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Indonesia
3 Center for Nuclear Reactor Technoloy and Safety, National Nuclear Energi Agency of Indonesia
4 Graduate School of Informatics Engineering, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Indonesia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate pre-service physics teachers^ knowledge and attitudes toward nuclear science and technology. This research used a survey method. The subjects of this study were 184 pre-service physics teachers at one of the universities in South Kalimantan province in Indonesia that consist of 39 men and 145 women. The instrument used was a questionnaire and the data were analyzed descriptively quantitatively. The result showed that: (1) pre-service physics teachers have knowledge discrepancy between content and contextual knowledge, where the contextual knowledge of pre-service physics teachers on nuclear science and technology is still low- (2) pre-service physics teachers have negative attitudes on nuclear science and technology- (3) pre-service physics teachers^ knowledge correlated to the attitude on nuclear science and technology. This research is expected to be taken into consideration in improving pre-service physics teachers^ curriculum about nuclear science and technology, so they can play a role to improve public acceptance of nuclear energy

Keywords: Pre-service physics teachers, attitude, knowledge, nuclear

Topic: Physics Education