Science Teachers' Perception and Attitudes toward Nanotechnology

In this study, science teachers' perception and attitude toward nanotechnology are examined through questionnaires gathered from 134 secondary science teachers. As a result, the study shows that science teachers have high perceptiveness. However, they do not understand specific information on nanotechnology correctly. Science teachers have positive attitudes toward nanotechnology and they have perceived risks of nanotechnology as well as benefits of nanotechnology. Science teachers show positive attitudes toward the application of nanotechnology, whereas they show negative attitudes toward personal information chip and nano-taste enhancer. Science teachers are exposed to nanotechnology via various sources such as TV and internet, whereas teachers rarely get information on nanotechnology-related concepts in textbooks and teaching resources. Science teachers have perceived many textbooks do not introduce enough nanotechnology-related concepts. Many teachers try to explain the nanotechnology when textbooks include nanotechnology-related concepts, whereas quite a few of teachers do not introduce the nanotechnology-related concepts in class.