Science Curriculum in Practice: Student Teachers' Use of Hands-On Activities in High-Stakes Testing Schools

Abstract

This article describes the influence of recently adopted high-stakes testing on the curriculum and instruction of 12 secondary science student teachers (or interns). The study, which used a postpositivist, qualitative method with researcher as participant as the university supervisor, focused on interns' abilities to implement hands-on, reform-minded practices in the context of their school placements. Findings indicate that high-stakes testing could adversely influence interns' use of hands-on activities in courses assessed on tests and in schools where students did not receive high scores.