Primary school teachers' understanding of biological concepts: selected research findings

Abstract

Abstract The profile component ‘Knowledge and understanding in science’ for Key Stages 1 and 2 in the National Curriculum has placed new demands on primary school teachers. This article discusses the findings of a survey of British primary school teachers and their understanding of certain biological concepts that are required to be taught by the National Curriculum. Initial in‐depth hour‐long interviews identified key areas for further investigation. These were followed by a survey phase which used questionnaires to elucidate the prevalence of certain views expressed in the interviews. Particular concepts held by the teachers and which were at variance with current scientific thinking concentrated upon gas exchange in the process of respiration and photosynthesis. Subject and pedagogic content knowledge is discussed in relation to primary school teachers' training and the need for INSET material, which is being developed out of this research, is briefly mentioned.