Preparing Informal Science Educators in a Formal Science Teacher Education Program: An Oxymoron?

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to describe a teacher education program in elementary education with a focus on science education and environmental education. The chapter is co-authored by a professor in the program and two former students who attended and graduated from this program at different times. Both students have worked in both formal and informal science education environments and this chapter explores the question of how a formal teacher education program might well prepare students for a career in informal as well as formal science education. We describe the teacher education program holistically and the varied individual experiences of each student in the program. We believe a strength of this chapter is the perspective gained from hearing former pre-service teacher participants’ voices about this program and its benefits and shortcomings in their own lives. While there is literature about the advantages of informal science education partnering with formal science education, most of this literature addresses the benefits that informal science education brings to formal science education. Another purpose of this chapter is to urge educators in these fields (informal and formal science education) to carefully consider the benefits that a formal teacher education program might provide to individuals who wish to pursue careers in informal science education.