Science Teacher Education Courses Research Articles

Pre-Service Elementary Teachers Learning to Plan Modeling-Based Investigations

ABSTRACT Learning to plan modeling-based investigations (MBIs) presents significant challenges for pre-service elementary teachers. Although they understand disciplinary core ideas and modeling practices, they address both as competing learning goals and, as novices, they have not experienced how to structure MBIs for their future students. In the context of a science teacher education course, we have designed a set of pedagogical supports around a biology-specific epistemic tool to help pre-service elementary teachers meet those challenges. This study builds the case of how a group of four pre-service elementary teachers learns to plan MBIs while working with the designed supports. We use the professional vision as a theoretical and analytical framework to characterize the group’s learning through discourses to build shared professional understandings of planning MBIs around biology core ideas. Analysis focused on their highlighting and coding of relevant aspects of disciplinary core ideas, modeling, and structuring MBIs, as well as their creation and use of material representations. The findings illustrate that: a) epistemic negotiation supports the group in integrating biology core ideas and modeling practices when developing explanatory models, and b) pedagogical negotiation, through the de-construction of those explanatory models, supports the group structuring of a MBI, including a natural phenomenon and questions students can investigate in a coherent sequence. We discuss how a biology-specific epistemic tool embedded in pedagogical supports helps pre-service teachers learn to plan MBIs by facilitating both epistemic and pedagogical negotiations.

Professional Knowledge and Organizational Commitment of Faculty Members Handling Science Subjects in the University of Eastern Philippines

This study aimed to determine the professional knowledge of faculty members in terms of knowledge of science content, knowledge of general pedagogy, pedagogical content knowledge, and knowledge of the curriculum structure and materials and find out the degree of organizational commitment along with affective, continuance, and normative organizational commitment. A complete enumeration of faculty members handling science teacher education courses in the College of Education and College of Science. Descriptive-observational and survey were employed. The questionnaires were adapted from the framework for Philippine Science Teacher Education published by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and University of the Philippines-National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP-NISMED) and the organizational commitment along with affective, continuance, and normative commitment constructed and tested. It was found out that faculty members have very high professional; specifically, very high knowledge content, very high knowledge of general pedagogy, and very high knowledge of the curriculum structure and materials. It was also found out that faculty members are very highly committed to the University. Specifically, faculty members are very highly committed to affective, continuance, and normative organizational commitment.

Preservice science teachers\u2019 emerging pedagogy of mobile game integration: a tale of two cohorts improvement study

In the context of the current teacher education program in Thailand, Technology Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework is formally recognized as essential qualities of knowledge for a highly qualified preservice teacher in today’s education. TPACK has been attracted to educational researchers for preparing preservice science teachers nationwide. In this study, TPACK was employed for restructuring a preservice science teacher education course with mobile game technology, which was offered in two consecutive semesters with a total enrollment of 115 student teachers in the first cohort and 94 student teachers in the second cohort. A pedagogic module of Mobile Game-based Inquiry Learning in Science (MGILS) has been designed and created in two settings, a usual separated and integrated case-based TPACK support module, and then implemented with the first and second cohort respectively in general science teacher education program at a Rajabhat University of Thailand. They were measured TPACK in terms of four constructs, namely, (a) technological knowledge (TK), (b) technological content knowledge (TCK), (c) technological pedagogical knowledge (TPK), and (d) technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK). Considering both qualitative and quantitative data analysis from two cohorts, the results showed preservice science teachers’ incremental TPACK improvement from the implementation of the usual separated and integrated case-based TPACK support module of MGILS. Based on the results of MGILS intervention, it seems to indicate the alleged superiority of the integrated case-based TPACK support over the usual separated TPACK support. The deficits in the use of MGILS module are identified, and possible improvements to enhance TPACK in the mobile game are proposed.

Factors Related to the Quality of Computer Science Teacher Education Courses: A Public Data Analysis

O pensamento computacional vem ganhando importância na Educação Básica, como instrumento para o desenvolvimento da aprendizagem, e os cursos de Informática, com foco na formação de professores, são responsáveis pela formação de profissionais para fomentá-la. Assim, utilizando o método Design Science Research, foi definido e implantado um método de análise de dados públicos. Uma vez que o método foi implantado, foram analisados dados de Instituições de Ensino Superior do Brasil e dados do Exame Nacional de Desempenho de Estudantes (ENADE). Explorou-se o perfil dos cursos e alunos de Licenciatura em Computação, com foco em compreender, como as diferentes constatações sobre esses cursos se relacionam com a qualidade do curso. Os resultados mostram que muitos fatores estão relacionados ao desempenho do curso no ENADE, tanto fatores associados aos alunos matriculados nos cursos, quanto fatores associados aos cursos e instituições. Por fim, este artigo apresenta uma visão geral dos cursos de formação de professores de informática no Brasil, considerando as qualidades do curso.

Field Study Program Focusing on Experiences and Reflection: Perspectives on Students’ Geological Observations in a Pre-service Science Teacher Education Course

Field Study Program Focusing on Experiences and Reflection: Perspectives on Students’ Geological Observations in a Pre-service Science Teacher Education Course

Preparing preservice teachers to use block-based coding in scientific modeling lessons

Scientific modeling and coding are critical skills to be integrated into K-12 instruction. Research has shown that preservice teachers are often ill-prepared for teaching scientific modeling, and lack opportunities to learn coding within teacher education programs. The present study reports the implementation of an instructional module and online system, called Coding in Scientific Modeling Lessons (CS-ModeL), which was designed to scaffold preservice science teachers’ learning to code simulations and design scientific modeling lessons that feature simulation coding. In this study, we examined preservice teachers’ epistemic discourse during simulation coding, perceptions of coding for future teaching, and coding-enhanced scientific modeling lessons. This was a qualitative single case study that involved six participants enrolled in a science teacher education course. Participants worked in pairs during scientific modeling activities, and each pair was considered an embedded unit within the single case. Data sources included transcripts of screen recordings captured during simulation coding, transcripts of individual semi-structured interviews, and lessons in which participants used simulation coding as part of scientific modeling activities. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted. Findings revealed that participants’ epistemic discourse led to correction of science misconceptions. However, lack of debugging and conflict argumentation skills detracted from their epistemic discourse quality. Participants perceived coding as a beneficial skill for K-12 students though they voiced concerns about teaching with coding unassisted. Participants failed to design truly interdisciplinary and authentic scientific modeling activities including simulation coding. Study limitations and future research directions are discussed.

Disrupting My Teaching Practices: A Teacher Educator Living as A Contradiction

ABSTRACT As a teacher educator, I became concerned that my practice did not reflect my constructivist perspective. This realization disrupted my belief about my teaching efficacy. I understood that teacher education is often criticized for not sufficiently preparing teachers. Was I part of the problem? As a result, I initiated this study to examine my practice to identify how I might align my beliefs and practice. Using a self-study approach, I analyzed my teaching practices in a high school science classroom and during a science teacher education course. Brooks and Brooks’ guiding principles of constructivism provided the lens, and qualitative coding mechanics provided the basis for analysis. Finally, using a modified Theory of Planned Behavior, the findings revealed that I struggled to initiate meaningful constructivist-oriented activities in a high school setting. In a subsequent teacher education course, I exhibited a deeper understanding and application of constructivist-oriented pedagogies. The results lead to recommendations for my continual development, for other teacher educators who discover that they are also living as a contradiction, and for graduate schools who prepare teacher educators.

Debating Racism During Initial Teacher Education: A Case Among Chemistry Students

Discussions on racism in classrooms pose a huge educational challenge today, since racism has become naturalized within society, and racial issues are rarely addressed in science teacher education courses. Considering the social problems originated from racism, this paper discusses some aspects of them through a dialogical activity conducted among students in a chemistry teacher-training course. In order to engage the students in the dialogue, a poem that enable discussing social and scientific issues was chosen and had been set to music. At the first part of the discussion, only one student took the poem’s key message as referring to racism. This seems to be directly related to the poor discussion of this topic within society. Through interactive discourse characterized by integrated transition between dialogic and authoritative communicative approaches, a common viewpoint about racism was achieved by all participants, including students who had not identified the matter in the poem initially. Although isolated activities are not enough to consistently develop teachers’ beliefs and attitudes against racism, the findings suggest that discursive movement can encourage critical thinking about this.

The Conceptual and Disciplinary Segregation of Disability: a Phenomenography of Science Education Graduate Student Learning

Science teacher education has long sought to educate new science teachers to more fully understand “Science-for-all” and prepare them to effectively navigate diverse contexts. To adopt this “Science-for-all” mantra, we need to address what the labeling (i.e., categorical labeling and/or mislabeling) of students with disabilities means for science teacher education. This paper provides a critical inquiry to ground the claim that disability operates subversively and unrecognized as a marker of difference similar to labels that produce exclusion in science education (e.g., race, class, and gender). Using a phenomenographic design, this research studied graduate students’ conceptualizations of disability as they progressed through the only required diversity course at a large, urban university in the American northeast. Primary data sources included in-depth, pre-/post-course interviews with supplemental data collected from biweekly course reflections. Phenomenographic data analyses addressed to what extent these graduate students embraced a disability studies perspective relative to disability—i.e., viewing disability beyond merely individual deficit. Findings suggest that the course sustained the relatively static conceptualizations about disability held by the participants related to individual deficiency rather than pushing for more critical views of disability beyond deficiency. Implications are discussed in relation to multicultural science teacher education course goals.

Building Reflective Practices in a Pre-service Math and Science Teacher Education Course That Focuses on Qualitative Video Analysis

ABSTRACTThe use of video for in-service and pre-service teacher development has been gaining acceptance, and yet video remains a challenging and understudied tool. Many projects have used video to help pre-service and in-service teachers reflect on their own teaching processes, examine teacher–student interactions, and develop their professional vision. But rarely has video been used in ways more akin to qualitative education research that is focused on student learning. Even more rarely has this focus occurred at the earliest stages of pre-service teaching when students have not yet decided to pursue teaching careers. Yet here we argue that there are benefits to our approach. We examine a course for prospective pre-service math and science teachers at the University of California, Berkeley, that engages participants in qualitative video analysis to foster their reflective practice. This course is unique in that the prospective pre-service teachers engage in qualitative video analysis at a level characteristic of professional educational research, in that their analysis focuses on student learning of math and science content. We describe classroom activities that provide opportunities for the pre-service teacher participants to better observe, notice, and interpret their students’ sociocognitive activity. The course culmination project involves participants developing and teaching lessons in a high school classroom. The participants then videotape the lessons and conduct qualitative video analysis. Results include detailed examples of two selected prospective pre-service teachers demonstrating coherent and effective approaches to conceptualizing the learning and teaching of mathematical and science content along with some potential design principles for building reflective practices through qualitative video projects.

Technological pedagogical content knowledge development: integrating technology with a Research Teaching Perspective

Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK) represents the teachers’ professional knowledge needed to integrate technology in education. Following a design-based approach this study describes the strategies for designing and assessing an in-service science teacher education course. Data was obtained through interviews, questionnaires, using participant observation and analysis of in-service science teachers’ professional portfolios. A detailed description of the research methodology and findings is given, including an overview of the implications of the study. Results show that integrating technology with a Research Teaching Perspective (RTP) could be a way to develop innovative science lessons for students. Suggestions for the creation of a design framework for the development of initial and in-service science teachers’ TPCK are put forward.

Developing Community and Building Knowledge Online Using a Virtual Reality Environment and Student-Created Videos

Within an online science teacher education course, an important although secondary goal was to prepare students for a high-stakes licensure portfolio at some time after course completion. Thus, various communication technologies including synchronous virtual reality meetings and asynchronous student self-created video commentaries were interwoven to foster a community of problem solvers. This study examines the several technology-communication venues for evidence of student interpersonal communications and emerging content knowledge concluding with ways these communication tools might effectively support productive learning communities and engender professional yet “safe” and trusting environments in online and blended course environments.

Science Teacher Education in the Twenty-First Century: a Pedagogical Framework for Technology-Integrated Social Constructivism

Changes in our global world have shifted the skill demands from acquisition of structured knowledge to mastery of skills, often referred to as twenty-first century competencies. Given these changes, a sequential explanatory mixed methods study was undertaken to (a) examine predominant instructional methods and technologies used by teacher educators, (b) identify attributes for learning and teaching in the twenty-first century, and (c) develop a pedagogical framework for promoting meaningful usage of advanced technologies. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected via an online survey, personal interviews, and written reflections with science teacher educators and student teachers. Findings indicated that teacher educators do not provide sufficient models for the promotion of reform-based practice via web 2.0 environments, such as Wikis, blogs, social networks, or other cloud technologies. Findings also indicated four attributes for teaching and learning in the twenty-first century: (a) adapting to frequent changes and uncertain situations, (b) collaborating and communicating in decentralized environments, (c) generating data and managing information, and (d) releasing control by encouraging exploration. Guided by social constructivist paradigms and twenty-first century teaching attributes, this study suggests a pedagogical framework for fostering meaningful usage of advanced technologies in science teacher education courses.

Mainstreaming ESD into Science Teacher Education Courses: A Case for ESD Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Learning as Connection

In this case study, researchers evaluated national education policies in Zambia, analysed a localised science (Chemistry 5070) syllabus, assessed a university teaching methods course, and evaluated 54 mathematics and science education students’ perceptions on mainstreaming education for sustainable development (ESD) into their courses. ESD was a salient matter in education policies and in the preamble to Chemistry 5070, but not in the university teaching methods course. The chemistry syllabus included ESD issues in the ‘notes’ section, but was lacking in guidance on teaching and learning approaches to integrate the issues. The university Teaching Methods course did not include content and methods to assist teachers to effectively teach Chemistry 5070 and to integrate ESD issues into it. Students surveyed had some awareness of ESD issues and most were inclined to suggest that ESD issues must be mainstreamed into their courses, especially in educational theory courses; few students suggested natural sciences as carrier subjects for ESD. The findings pointed to a discrepancy among educational policies, school Chemistry 5070 and the university teaching methods courses. A paradigm shift is recommended in order that the quality and relevance of science education be viewed via the metaphor of ‘learning as connection’ and that Shulman’s (1986) pedagogical content knowledge model be adapted so that content and pedagogy of science courses are inclusive of social and humanistic issues such as those advocated in ESD discourse.

MAGDAIRE: A model to foster pre-service teachers' ability in integrating ICT and teaching in Taiwan

<span>This report describes our efforts in fostering Taiwanese pre-service teachers' ability to integrate information and communication technology (ICT) and teaching. The current state of science teacher education and ICT policies in Taiwan are documented briefly. The course model, MAGDAIRE (abbreviated from Modeled Analysis, Guided Development, Articulated Implementation, and Reflected Evaluation) is then introduced to counterbalance the insufficiency of the current teacher education courses in Taiwan. The model is subsequently employed to enhance a science teacher education course at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU). The study conducted along with the course indicates that MAGDAIRE can significantly improve pre-service teachers' ICT knowledge and skills. Moreover, MAGDAIRE can significantly enhance pre-service teachers' sensitivity to the complex interactions between ICT, pedagogy, and subject matter. Some recommendations for employing the proposed model to enhance teacher education courses are discussed.</span>

Developing a science teacher education course that supports student teachers’ thinking and teaching about the nature of science

Background and purpose This paper reports on part of an ongoing research project in England concerning the Nature of Science (NOS). The particular focus is on the initial thinking of the graduate scientists starting a one-year, Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) course and the way the course approaches adopted influence their views and understanding of NOS and their teaching. The research is set against a wealth of literature indicating that teachers find it difficult to teach curricula that emphasise NOS. Thus a key impetus for research in this area has been to look for ways that beginning teachers might be better prepared to face such challenges. Sample The paper draws on data from three cohorts of secondary PGCE students in a university–schools partnership, involving a total of 169 students. Design and method The research lies within a design research tradition. It has used mixed methods, involving written tasks, interviews and focus groups, with an iterative approach where the outcomes from one cohort have been used to inform course developments in successive years. Results The results from these cohorts suggest that, while the students starting the course have a less restricted view of NOS than indicated by some other studies, in most cases there is a lack of breadth and depth to their understanding. There is some evidence that the use of specific tasks focusing on NOS in university-based sessions may be helping to develop and deepen understanding. However, the impact of current approaches remains fairly limited and attempts to develop teaching practices often face considerable barriers in the school-based practicum. Conclusions Graduate science students’ understanding of NOS as they embark on the PGCE is not highly developed. Hence, the emphasis on aspects of NOS in the school curriculum presents a considerable challenge. This study suggests that there is a need to both further develop an explicit focus on NOS in university-based sessions and to develop closer relationships between schools and university faculty in seeking to support developments in classroom practice in this difficult area.

From PCK to TPACK: Developing a Transformative Model for Pre-Service Science Teachers

New science teachers should be equipped with the ability to integrate and design the curriculum and technology for innovative teaching. How to integrate technology into pre-service science teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge is the important issue. This study examined the impact on a transformative model of integrating technology and peer coaching for developing technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) of pre-service science teachers. A transformative model and an online system were designed to restructure science teacher education courses. Participants of this study included an instructor and 12 pre-service teachers. The main sources of data included written assignments, online data, reflective journals, videotapes and interviews. This study expanded four views, namely, the comprehensive, imitative, transformative and integrative views to explore the impact of TPACK. The model could help pre-service teachers develop technological pedagogical methods and strategies of integrating subject-matter knowledge into science lessons, and further enhanced their TPACK.

Integrated mathematics and science teacher education courses: A modelling perspective

Integrated mathematics and science teacher education courses: A modelling perspective

Incorporating Multicultural and Science-Technology-Society Issues into Science Teacher Education Courses: Successes, Challenges and Possibilities

Incorporating Multicultural and Science-Technology-Society Issues into Science Teacher Education Courses: Successes, Challenges and Possibilities

Preservice primary teacher education in NSW: A comparative analysis of espoused science education curricula

Recently the "Green Paper" (Dawkins, 1987, p. 18) commented that a "better understanding of ... science by primary teachers" is needed, and it was proposed that a major discipline assessment of "teacher education in ... science" be undertaken. These remarks beg the question: "What do we know about the science education courses provided in preservice primary teacher education program mes? Two recent reviews of science teacher education (Owen et. al. 1983; Tisher, 1986) concluded that there was little written about preservice primary teacher education courses. Following the above review by Owen et. al. (1983), a major project in science in primary teacher education was conducted (Owen et. al. 1985). One aspect of this work surveyed the content and structure of preservice primary science courses in Victorian CAE's. This paper extends the data available on preservice primary science teacher education courses by analysing and comparing the espoused curricula of primary science curriculum units offered by eleven NSW tertiary institutions in 1985/7. Comparisons are made with the Victorian study.