Abstract for: Analyzing Pre-service Teachers' Mental Models on Climate Change Using Systems Thinking

When faced with complex problems, we develop mental models to understand and address them. Climate change is one of the most critical issues of our time. Examining our mental models of climate change is a critical and necessary step in understanding and addressing this issue. The systems thinking perspective provides a holistic approach to understanding and addressing complex systems such as climate change. In this study, pre-service teachers' mental models of climate change-based case scenarios were examined using systems thinking. Researchers visualized written questions answered by 11 different groups. Network representations will be examined using specific measures to determine the complexity of pre-service teachers' mental models developed in response to a climate change-based scenario.