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1
Senler, Burcu. "Pre-service Science Teachers." Phd thesis, METU, 2011. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12613270/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among pre-service science teachers&rsquopersonality, self-regulation, and teaching self-efficacy by proposing and testing a comprehensive conceptual model. In the model, it was hypothesized that personality traits are directly linked to pre-service science teachers&rsquo
self-efficacy and academic self-regulation, and pre-service science teachers&rsquo
academic self-regulation is directly related to their self-efficacy. A total of 1794 pre-service science teachers (876 males and 905 females) from 27 education faculty partic ipated in the study. Self-efficacy (i.e. self-efficacy for student engagement, for instructional strategies, and for classroom management), academic self-regulation (i.e. achievement goals, task value, control of learning beliefs, test anxiety, metacognitive self-regulation, effort regulation, and peer learning), and personality trait (i.e. Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness) were assessed by self-report instruments. The results of the path analysis revealed that agreeableness, neuroticism, performance approach goals, and use of metacognitive strategies were positively linked to different dimensions of self-efficacy, namely self-efficacy for student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management. In general, while agreeableness and neuroticism were found to be positively associated with different facets of academic self-regulation and self-efficacy, openness was found to be negatively linked to these adaptive outcomes.
2
Cakir, Birgul. "Pre-service Science Teachers." Master's thesis, METU, 2011. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12613688/index.pdf.
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Based on the importance place of metacognition in education, the current study aimed to investigate whether the embedded metacognitive prompts in the manual lead a change in PSTs&rsquometacognitive knowledge and metacognitive skills. Throught 2009-2010 Fall semester, the data were collected from pre-service science teachers (PSTs) who enrolled in the Laboratory Applications in Science Education course. The course was offered as a must course in Elementary Science Education programme in one of the biggest universites in Ankara. The method selected for the study was mix method. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. Quantitative data was collected from 28 PSTs and qualitative data was collected from 7 PSTs who were the members of the researcher&rsquo
s group. In accordance with the purpose of the current study, descriptive statistics and independent samples t-test was conducted for quantitative data. In terms of qualitative part, the study was case study and interviews which were conducted before and after the course were analyzed to observe the change of PSTs&rsquo
metacognition. The result of the study revealed that before the course most of the PSTs did not report metacognitive skills. After the course it was observed that their metacognitive skills were developed. Among metacognitive skills, the most reported skill was monitoring skill after the course. It can be concluded from the study that metacognitive prompts embedded into the manual provided a metacognitively learning environment and a development in PSTs&rsquo
metacognition.
3
Cihangir, Cihan Gulin. "Investigating Pre-service Science Teachers." Master's thesis, METU, 2010. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12611596/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
Based on the importance of implementing effective environmental education has been asserted to a sustainable solution to the environmental problems, this study aimed to (1) investigate the pre-service science teachers&rsquoprocesses of construction of explanations regarding environmental problems, and (2) provide an environment for researchers to understand the dispositions of participants in terms of how using environmental explanations for answering the questions. The research has been realized within the context of an elective course titled &ldquo
Laboratory applications in environmental education&rdquo
in the Department of Elementary Education throughout 2008-2009 Spring semesters. The 21 pre-service science teachers attended the course and participated the environmental learning activities including five different environmental problems
biological diversity, surface waters, drinking water, waste water and air pollution with in a small group. Field trip activities, group discussions and whole class discussions were conducted through the course. Data were collected through audio and video recorders from one small group and through pre, post-tests. Analyses of data revealed that pre-service science teachers could not aware of the complex and multidisciplinary nature of environmental knowledge, so they mostly interpreted environmental problems through the everyday knowledge that they derived from everyday experiences. Through peer collaboration in fields and student-facilitator collaboration in discussions weeks, the pre-service science teachers have a chance to analyze different perspectives and ideologies about the causes and solutions of environmental problems. The pre-tests and post-test results revealed that in the field-based collaborative inquiry activities the participants&rsquo
nature of explanations shifted from descriptive to formal and scientific explanations.
4
Adibelli, Elif. "Investigating Pre-service Science Teachers." Master's thesis, METU, 2010. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12611624/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The main purpose of this study was to determine preservice science teachers&rsquo(PSTs) epistemological beliefs regarding the nature of knowledge and learning in the domain of environment through comparing with the domains of biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics. A total of 12 PSTs voluntarily participated in the study. The sample of this study was consisted of senior elementary PSTs who registered for an elective course titled &ldquo
Laboratory Applications in Science and Environmental Education&rdquo
in the fall semester of 2008-2009 at a public university, in Ankara. The major data of this study was collected by using a semi-structured interview protocol, developed by Schommer-Aikins (2008). The data of this study were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Miles and Huberman approach (1994). The data analyses of this study were presented along with five dimensions of epistemological beliefs. The analysis of omniscient authority indicated that the PSTs less trust in environmental experts&rsquo
opinions, give more importance to informal education in the acquisition of environmental knowledge, and believe that environmental knowledge is justified more on the basis of direct observation. The analysis of stability of knowledge revealed that the PSTs conceived of environmental knowledge as more uncertain. The analysis of structure of knowledge pointed out that the PSTs consider environmental knowledge as more complex. The analysis of control of learning revealed that the PSTs believe that the large percentage of ability to learn can be acquired after the birth more in environment. The analysis of speed of learning indicated that the PSTs believe that much of learning takes less time in the domain of environment. This study provided evidence that epistemological beliefs are multidimensional and domain-specific. Moreover, this study highlighted that the nature of environmental knowledge and learning are also an important issue to be addressed in environmental education.
5
Ozturk, Nilay. "Investigating Pre-service Science Teachers." Master's thesis, METU, 2011. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12613705/index.pdf.
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The aims of the present study were to investigate the relationship among preservice science teachers&rsquoinformal reasoning regarding nuclear power plant construction, epistemological beliefs and metacognitive awareness. Throughout 2010-2011 fall and spring semesters, a total of 674 pre-service science teachers participated in the study. Data were collected through Schommer&rsquo
s Epistemological Questionnaire, Metacognitive Awareness Inventory, and Open-ended Questionnaire Assessing Informal Reasoning regarding Nuclear Power Usage. MANOVA, correlational analysis, and stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted. The analyses revealed that the differences between pre-service science teachers&rsquo
epistemological beliefs within the two decision making groups were not statistically significant. Besides, results of the bivariate correlation revealed that there were statistically significant correlation between pre-service science teachers&rsquo
total argument construction and all the dimensions of SEQ except omniscient authority. Also, there was a significant correlation between pre-service science teachers&rsquo
certain knowledge dimension of SEQ and their counterargument construction. Moreover, the differences between pre-service science teachers&rsquo
metacognitive awareness within the two decision making groups were not statistically significant. Results of the bivariate correlation revealed that there was a significant correlation between preservice science teachers&rsquo
metacognitive awareness and informal reasoning outcomes. Finally, stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that pre-service science teachers&rsquo
information management strategy was the only significant predictor for their rebuttal construction. Declarative knowledge was the best predictor of preservice science teachers&rsquo
counterargument construction while the second best predictor was certain knowledge for their counterargument construction. Finally declarative knowledge was the only significant predictor for the amount of preservice science teachers&rsquo
reasoning modes.
6
Savas, Meltem. "Investigating Pre-service Science Teachers." Master's thesis, METU, 2011. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12613819/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the preservice science teachers&rsquoperceived technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) on genetics. More specifically, the purpose was to examine the relationships among the components of TPACK and genetics knowledge of the preservice science teachers. Moreover, findings the effect of the demographic information on perceived TPACK was also aimed. This study was conducted with preservice science teachers who were enrolled in elementary science education department of Education Faculties of eight public universities located in Central Anatolia. 1530 preservice science teachers participated to the study. There were two instruments used in this research which were perceived TPACK questionnaire, which was later adopted by the researcher as perceived TPACK on genetics, and genetic concepts test. v Data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. In order to answer the first research question, descriptive information about the components of TPACK was given. Correlational analyses were used to identify the relationship between each component of the perceived TPACK on genetics and their genetic knowledge. Another correlational analysis was conducted for the third research question which seeks the relationships among the components of the TPACK. Moreover, MANOVA was conducted to investigate the impact of gender and year of enrollment on perceived TPACK on genetics of preservice science teachers. The results revealed that genetic knowledge was correlated with each component except the perceived project specific technology knowledge. Moreover, there were positive significant correlations among the components of the TPACK. According to the MANOVA results, the mean scores of male and female preservice science teachers differ in five components of TPACK, namely project specific technology knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, technological content knowledge and technological pedagogical content knowledge. The results of MANOVA for year of enrollment revealed that the mean ETK, GTK, PSTK, and CK scores of participants with different year of enrollment differ significantly.
7
Pamuk, Savas. "Pre-service Science And Mathematics Teachers." Master's thesis, METU, 2007. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/2/12608465/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was (1) to explore pre-service science and mathematics teachers&rsquolevels of computer self-efficacy and attitude towards computers, (2) to investigate the effects of gender, grade level, major of study, and computer ownership of pre-service science and mathematics teachers on computer self-efficacy and attitudes towards computers, and (3) to examine the relationship between computer self-efficacy and attitudes towards. For this study 650 students from two departments, which were Elementary Science Education and Elementary Mathematics Education, of three public universities in Ankara participated. Also, students were enrolled in first and fourth grades. The scales were administrated during 2006 Fall semester. Computer Self-efficacy Scale and Computer Attitude Scale which had four sub-scales, namely anxiety confidence, liking, and usefulness were used to determine pre-service teachers&rsquo
computer self-efficacy and attitudes towards computer levels. Moreover, the v questionnaire had some questions that asked demographic characteristics of participants. The results indicated that pre-service Science and Mathematics teachers had high computer self-efficacy and attitude levels. Furthermore, participants&rsquo
gender was not a significant factor on their computer self-efficacy and computer attitude except for liking sub-scale. Males liked more computer than females. Major of participants did not have any effect on computer self-efficacy and computer attitude. Grade level was an important factor for computer self-efficacy and attitude
fourth graders had higher scores on both scales. Computer owner participants had significantly higher scores of computer self-efficacy and attitudes towards computers. Finally, results showed that participants&rsquo
computer self-efficacy scores were related to sub-scale scores of computer attitude scale.
8
Sacici, Semra. "The Interrelation Between Pre-service Science Teachers." Master's thesis, METU, 2013. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12615392/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
This study examined preservice science teachers&rsquoconceptions about teaching and learning, self-efficacy beliefs, learning approaches and images of themselves as a science teachers. The study was also interested in examining the possible relationships among preservice science teachers&rsquo
conceptions about teaching and learning, learning approaches and self-efficacy beliefs. The study was carried out during 2011-2012 spring semester at three different public universities in Ankara. A total of 208 senior preservice science teachers who were volunteers involved. Data were collected through Draw-A-Science-Teacher-Test Checklist, Teaching and Learning Conceptions Questionnaire, Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument, and The Learning Approach Questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics, paired-sample t-test and canonical correlation analysis. Paired-sample t-test analyses results showed that preservice science teachers prefer constructivist conception more than traditional conception
and meaningful learning approaches more than rote learning approaches. Besides, preservice science teachers were also found to have generally high sense of self-efficacy beliefs in science teaching. Moreover, the results of the DASTT-C showed that preservice science teachers&rsquo
perspectives of science teaching conception is 42.7% student-centered, 7.0% teacher-centered and 50.3% neither student-centered nor teacher-centered. Furthermore, the canonical correlation analysis revealed that the first canonical variate demonstrated that preservice science teachers&rsquo
constructivist conception and traditional conception are associated with their self-efficacy beliefs and learning approaches.
9
Ulutas, Ozgul. "An Investigation Of Pre-service Elementary Science Teachers." Master's thesis, METU, 2009. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12611443/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
This study aims to investigate pre-service elementary science teacher&rsquos scientific literacy level and their attitudes towards science. In addition, whether pre-service elementary science teacher&rsquo
s scientific literacy and their attitudes towards science differs in some demographic variables such as gender, high school profile, grade, place of family residence, parents educational level and family income level were examined. Finally, possible relationship between participants&rsquo
scientific literacy level and their attitudes towards science was explored. The present study conducted with 285 pre-service elementary science teachers from Elementary Science Education Program at Dokuz Eylü
l University during the second semester of 2008-2009 academic year. The data were collected by administering v Turkish version of Test of Basic Scientific Literacy (TBSL) and SAI-II (Science Attitude Inventory) scales. Analysis of the data indicated that pre-service elementary science teachers have satisfactory scientific literacy level and moderately positive attitudes towards science. Moreover, participants&rsquo
scientific literacy level and attitudes towards science showed differences in only some demographic variables: gender and place of family residence. Finally, the analysis also indicated that there is a positive significant relationship between participants&rsquo
scientific literacy level and their attitudes towards science.
10
Ozgelen, Sinan. "Exploring The Development Of Pre-service Science Teachers." Phd thesis, METU, 2010. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12611603/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The purposes of this study were to explore understanding of preservice science teachers&rsquo(PSTs) nature of science (NOS) views during the explicit-reflective and inquiry-based laboratory instruction and investigate PSTs&rsquo
perspectives and experiences related to learning NOS aspects in the science laboratory course. This study was carried out during the Laboratory Application in Science II course. A total of 45 PSTs participated to the study. The design of the study was qualitative and exploratory in nature. In the initial phase of the study, the researcher collected qualitative data with open-ended questionnaire to explore PSTs&rsquo
NOS views. Then, during the semester, reflection papers were collected to understand PSTs&rsquo
experiences with the intervention and to detect development about each NOS aspect. At the end of the semester, qualitative questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine the impact of the explicit-reflective and inquiry-based laboratory instruction. The results showed that all of the PSTs were able to make appropriate connections among the laboratory activities and the targeted NOS aspects at the end of the instruction. In addition, many PSTs developed their understanding levels of each aspect of nature of science. Moreover, findings revealed that some of the PSTs made connections among NOS aspects. Three main factors
discussions and presentations, using inquiry skills, and doing inquiry-based laboratory activities were determined as provide to PSTs to develop their NOS understanding. Furthermore, at the end PSTs developed their perspectives about teaching NOS.
11
Isbilir, Erdinc. "Investigation Of Pre-service Science Teachers'." Master's thesis, METU, 2010. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12612456/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate pre-service science teachers&rsquo(PST) quality of written argumentations about socio-scientific issues in an online discussion environment in relation to their epistemic beliefs and argumentativeness. A total of 30 pre-service elementary science teachers who will teach elementary school science from 6th through 8th grade students after graduation voluntarily participated in this study. The sample was chosen by purposive and convenience sampling from the PSTs registered for the course named &ldquo
Science, Technology, and Society&rdquo
in the fall semester of 2009-2010 academic year at a public university in Ankara. In this study, the PSTs participated in an online discussion environment in which climate change, nuclear power, genetically modified foods, and human genome project issues were discussed for a total of four week period. The major data of this study were collected through the Epistemic Beliefs Questionnaire developed by Kuhn, Cheney and Weinstock (2000) and the Argumentativeness Scale by Infante and Rancer (1982). For the analysis of the quality of argumentations, an adapted version of Sadler and Fowler&rsquo
s (2006) argumentation analysis framework was employed. The results of the study illustrated that the PSTs frequently generated high quality argumentations for each socio-scientific issue which was interpreted as a positive indication that the online discussion environment was effective in promoting students&rsquo
argumentation. In addition, the results also showed that argumentation quality levels varied across socio-scientific issues. Another result of this study was that the PSTs&rsquo
argumentation qualities were higher for multiplist and evaluativist levels. Finally, the correlation results between argumentativeness and argumentation quality levels did not reveal a significant correlation between these variables. However, there was a significant correlation between epistemic belief levels and argumentativeness.
12
Ozdem, Yasemin. "The Nature Of Pre-service Science Teachers'." Master's thesis, METU, 2009. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12611154/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study is to explore pre-service science teachers&rsquo(PST) argumentation in the context of inquiry-oriented laboratory work. Specifically, this study investigated the kinds of argumentation schemes PSTs use as they perform inquiry-oriented laboratory tasks, and how argumentation schemes generated by PSTs vary by tasks as well as by experimentation and critical discussion sessions. The participants in this study were 35 pre-service elementary teachers, who will teach middle school science from 6th through 8th grade students after graduation. In this study, participants were engaged in six inquiry-oriented laboratory tasks. The performance of laboratory tasks consisted of two stages. Through the experimentation stage, PSTs planned and developed their own hypotheses, carried out an experiment and collected data, and processed their data to verify their hypotheses. Through the critical discussion stage, one of the research groups presented their hypotheses, methods, and results orally to the other research groups. Each presentation was followed by a class discussion of weak and strong aspects of the experimentation. The data of this study were collected through video- and audio-recording. The data were the transcribed from video- and audio-recordings of the PSTs&rsquo
discourse during the performance of the laboratory tasks. For the analysis of PSTs&rsquo
discourse pre-determined argumentation schemes by Walton (1996) were employed. The results illustrated that PSTs applied varied premises rather than only observations or reliable sources, to ground their claims or to argue for a case or an action. The interpretation of the frequency data and the kind of the most frequent argumentation schemes can be seen as a positive indication that the inquiry-oriented laboratory tasks that were employed in this study are effective toward promoting presumptive reasoning discourse. Another result of this study, which is worthy of notice is the construction and evaluation of scientific knowledge claims that resulted in different number and kinds of arguments. Results of this study suggest the following implications for improving science education. First, designing inquiry-oriented laboratory environments, which are enriched with critical discussion, provides discourse opportunities that can support argumentation. Second, both the number of arguments and the use of various scientific argumentation schemes can be enhanced by specific task structures. Third, &ldquo
argumentation schemes for presumptive reasoning&rdquo
is a promising analysis framework to reveal the argumentation patterns in scientific settings. Last, pre-service teachers can be encouraged to support and promote argumentation in their future science classrooms if they engage in argumentation integrated instructional strategies.
13
Cetinkaya, Gamze. "Investigation Of The Relationship Between Pre-service Science Teachers." Master's thesis, METU, 2012. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12614649/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationships between pre-service science teachers'understanding of nature of science (NOS) and their personal characteristics
understanding of nature of scientific inquiry (NOSI), epistemological world views, self-efficacy beliefs regarding science teaching, attitudes towards science teaching, metacognitive awareness level and faith/worldview schemas. The sample of the present study were 60 PSTs that are 3rd year students at elementary science education department at a public university in the Marmara region. The sample was chosen by using purposive sampling from the PSTs enrolled in the "
Nature of Science and History of Science"
course. Using a descriptive and associational case study design PSTs&rsquo
understandings of NOS, understanding of NOSI, epistemological world views, metacognitive awareness levels, self-efficacy beliefs, attitudes toward science teaching, and faith/worldviews were determined through different questionnaires and the associations between variables were investigated. Qualitative and quantitative questionnaires were analyzed and statistical analyses were conducted to see whether there is an association between PSTs'
level of understanding of NOS and their personal characteristics. The results of the study revealed that PSTs understanding of NOS and NOSI were highly related. Similarly, self-efficacy beliefs regarding science teaching, metacognitive awareness levels and faith/worldviews of the PSTs were found to be significantly related to understanding of NOS. On the other hand, there were not any significant associations between PSTs'
epistemological world views, attitudes towards science teaching and understanding of NOS.
14
Nyirenda, Euginia Mukhala. "Zambian Secondary School Pre-service science Teachers' Pedagogical Orientations and Beliefs about science Teaching." OpenSIUC, 2019. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/1711.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was fourfold: examine the pre-service science teachers' pedagogical orientations about science teaching; examine the pre-service science teachers' beliefs about science teaching; establish the extent to which the pre-service science teachers' pedagogical orientations correlate with their beliefs; and establish factors that shape the pedagogical orientations and beliefs of pre-service science teachers. A sample comprised 140 secondary school pre-service science teachers at three universities in Zambia. There were 102 males and 38 females. In the first phase, data were collected using the Pedagogy of Science Teaching Test (POSTT) that was adapted to suit the Zambian curriculum, and the Teacher Beliefs Interview (TBI) protocol. Whereas, in the second phase, a semi-structured interview was used to collect data. Twelve pre-service science teachers were interviewed to solicit in-depth information on the findings from the POSTT and TBI protocol.
15
Miller, David W. "Earth Science Literacy of Pre-Service and In-Service Elementary and Secondary School Teachers /." The Ohio State University, 1996. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487934589975827.
Full text
16
Ngwenya, Nkosinathi Hezekia. "Pre-service science education students’ epistemological beliefs about the nature of science and science teaching and learning." Thesis, University of Zululand, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10530/1377.
Full textAbstract:
Submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE EDUCATION in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology (MSTE) at the University of Zululand, 2015.This study set out to investigate beliefs held by pre service Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) students about the nature of science and science teaching and learning. The research sample comprised one hundred and eighty four (184) third and fourth year (B.Ed) students majoring in mathematics and physical sciences. Data on students’ epistemological beliefs about the nature of science and science teaching and Learning were collected using two questionnaires: The Nature of Science as Argument Questionnaire (NSAAQ) and Beliefs About Reformed Science Teaching and Learning (BARSTL). Furthermore the study sought to find out if those beliefs cohered with the beliefs espoused by the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) for Physical Sciences grades 10-12. The conceptual framework of this study was framed upon the preponderance of literature that carried the view that a teacher’s classroom practices are a consequence of two main dialectic influences: (a) the teacher’s epistemological beliefs about the nature of science, which may be either naïve or sophisticated; and (b) the teacher’s beliefs about teaching and learning, which may be either traditional or reformed. Accordingly, the conceptual framework guiding the study opined that teachers holding naïve beliefs about the nature of science, and those holding traditional notions of teaching and learning will be characterized by teacher-centred instructional approaches, while those holding sophisticated beliefs of the nature of science and a reformed view of teaching and learning will be associated with learner-centred instructional approaches. This study was a case study conducted at a South African university, and involved one hundred and eighty-four third and fourth year students registered for a four-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree for the Senior and Further Education and Training phase. During these two final years of the programme students are engaged in science enquiry practices in their Methods modules. The participants were registered in physical science and mathematics education. Intact groups were used, so there was no sampling undertaken to select participants. Data were collected by the use of (a) the Nature of Science as Argument Questionnaire (NSAAQ), to determine epistemological beliefs held by the participants about the nature of science, as well as the concurrence of those beliefs with the views about science teaching and learning espoused by the NCS; and (b) the Beliefs about Reformed Science Teaching and Learning (BARSTL) questionnaire, to determine the beliefs held by preservice education students about science teaching and learning. Data analysis involved the use of both descriptive statistical methods to decipher patterns and general trends regarding the epistemological beliefs about science held by participants, and their beliefs about science teaching and learning, as well as inferential statistics to test both a priori and a posteriori hypotheses. Similarly, statistical analysis was carried out to determine whether or not third- and fourth-year pre-service science education students held beliefs about science teaching and learning that were in agreement with the pedagogical content beliefs about science teaching and learning espoused by the NCS. The study found that pre service students held significantly more sophisticated epistemological beliefs about the nature of science at fourth year than at third year level. The results also showed that fourth year students demonstrated a significantly higher level of ‘reformed oriented teaching and learning beliefs’ about science than did the third year students. The results however showed that third and fourth year students held beliefs that were not in line with the beliefs espoused by the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). These results support studies which have found that student teachers become more sophisticated in their epistemological beliefs towards graduation. The findings also showed that the B.Ed programme is succeeding in developing both epistemological beliefs about the nature of science and teaching and learning. The degree to which the programme succeeded in developing these beliefs was however quite small. This study recommends that further investigations be done to determine whether students who hold sophisticated epistemological beliefs about the nature of science and ‘reformed beliefs about science teaching and learning’ also demonstrate superior science teaching skills
17
Travers, Karen Ann. "Elementary Pre-service Science Teacher Preparation: Contributions During the Methods Semester." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194976.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to better understand the nature of the contribution of the mentor teacher and the methods instructor in the development of professional knowledge of pre-service teachers (PSTs) to teach elementary science. The PSTs' conceptions of teaching science were also explored to see if there were changes in their ideas about teaching science and what influenced these changes during the methods semester of a field-based elementary teacher preparation program. Specifically, this study examined the perceptions of the PSTs regarding the nature of mentorship that they received for the teaching of elementary science. Participants were 144 PSTs from five field-based elementary methods sites, their mentor teachers, and their methods instructor from a university program in a large urban area. Of interest in this study was examining the extent to which PSTs actually observed science teaching in their mentor teachers' classrooms during the methods semester. Analysis of an end-of-semester survey revealed that more than one-third of the PSTs never observed their mentor elementary teachers teach science. On an encouraging note, 62% of PSTs who observed at least some science teaching reported that they perceived their teachers as modeling inquiry science teaching strategies. Regarding the perceived quality of mentor support for learning to teach science, more than 90% of PSTs reported that they felt supported by mentor teachers in their growth of science teaching even if the mentor teachers did not incorporate science lessons into their school day. In addition, half of the PSTs' conceptions of teaching science changed over the methods semester, with the methods course and the elementary classroom as the two most influential factors.
18
Iwuanyanwu, Paul Nnanyereugo. "Pre-service science teachers’ conceptual and procedural difficulties in solving mathematical problems in physical science." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/4002.
Full textAbstract:
>Magister Scientiae - MScStudents frequently leave first-year physical science classes with a dual set of physical laws in mind- the equations to be applied to qualitative problems and the entrenched set of concepts, many erroneous, to be applied to qualitative, descriptive, or explanatory problems. It is in this sense that the emphasis of this study is on ‘change’ rather than acquisition. Thus, a blend of theoretical framework was considered according to the aim of the study. Of immediate relevance in this regard within the “constructivist paradigm” are: Posner, Strike, Hewson and Gertzog’s (1982) conceptual change theory and the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy. Moreover, the very shift or restructuring of existing knowledge, concepts or schemata is what distinguishes conceptual change from other types of learning, and provides students with a more fruitful conceptual framework to solve problems, explain phenomena, and function in the world (Biemans & Simons, 1999; Davis, 2011). A quasi-experimental design was adopted to explore pre-service teachers’ conceptual and procedural difficulties in solving mathematical problems in physical science. Sixteen second and third year pre-service teachers in one of the historically black universities in the Western Cape, South Africa, participated in the study. Two inseparable concepts of basic mechanics, work-energy concepts were taught and used for data collection. Data were collected using questionnaires, Physical Science Achievement Test (PSAT), Multiple Reflective Questions (MRQ) and an interview. An explicit problem solving strategy (IDEAL strategy versus maths-in-science instructional model) was taught in the intervention sessions for duration of three weeks to the experimental group (E-group). IDEAL strategy placed emphasis on drill and practice heuristics that helped the pre-service teachers’ (E-group) understanding of problem-solving. Reinforcing heuristics of this IDEAL strategy include breaking a complex problem into sub-problems. Defining and representing problem (e.g. devising a plan-using Free-Body-Diagram) was part of the exploring possible strategies of the IDEAL. More details on IDEAL strategy are discussed in Chapter 3. The same work-energy concepts were taught to the control group (C-group) using lecture-demonstration method. A technique (i.e. revised taxonomy table for knowledge and cognitive process dimension) was used to categorize and analyse the level of difficulties for each item tested (e.g. D1 = minor difficulty, D2 = major difficulty, and D3 = atypical difficulty
19
Krim, Jessica Sarah. "Critical reflection and teacher capacity the secondary science pre-service teacher population /." Thesis, Montana State University, 2009. http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/krim/KrimJ0809.pdf.
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This qualitative study seeks to understand the development of secondary science pre-service teachers. A case study is developed about each of the five participants, in effort to answer the research questions, which are: How did critical reflection inform teacher capacity within the secondary science pre-service teacher population? What knowledge, skills, and dispositions facilitated secondary science pre-service teachers in developing a critically reflective practice? It is the author's expectation that by teaching these pre-service educators to develop their skills of critical reflection by using external methods of assessment such as videotaping, peer feedback, and student work, the participants in this study will increase and expand their capacity as teachers, or their "innate potential for growth, development, and accomplishment" (McDiarmid & Clevenger-Bright, 2008), and be better prepared to accomplish the goals that are expected of a master teacher. Data is collected from interviews, participant work samples, and observations from the researcher and other key individuals who worked with each participant, such as: the methods instructor, university supervisors, and cooperating teachers. Over the course of two semesters, the researcher developed a detailed description of each of the participants through analyzing passages selected from interview transcripts and student work samples for reflection type, factor of teacher capacity, and commonplace interaction group. The first outcome of this study includes an understanding of the relationship between critical reflection and teacher capacity and the knowledge, skills and dispositions that facilitate the development of a critically reflective practice. The second outcome of this study was the development of a new adaptation of a teacher interaction model (commonplace interaction groups) based on Schwab's Commonplaces of Educating. Lastly, three conclusions were drawn about the five participants in this study: There was a change in the participants' reflection level from the methods semester to the student teaching semester, most shifted their focus of reflection from teacher-self to teacher-student, and the weakest area of reflection with all participants was content / subject area and curriculum / standards.
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Ward, Elizabeth Kennedy. "Latent Transition Analysis of Pre-service Teachers' Efficacy in Mathematics and Science." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2009. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30425/.
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This study modeled changes in pre-service teacher efficacy in mathematics and science over the course of the final year of teacher preparation using latent transition analysis (LTA), a longitudinal form of analysis that builds on two modeling traditions (latent class analysis (LCA) and auto-regressive modeling). Data were collected using the STEBI-B, MTEBI-r, and the ABNTMS instruments. The findings suggest that LTA is a viable technique for use in teacher efficacy research. Teacher efficacy is modeled as a construct with two dimensions: personal teaching efficacy (PTE) and outcome expectancy (OE). Findings suggest that the mathematics and science teaching efficacy (PTE) of pre-service teachers is a multi-class phenomena. The analyses revealed a four-class model of PTE at the beginning and end of the final year of teacher training. Results indicate that when pre-service teachers transition between classes, they tend to move from a lower efficacy class into a higher efficacy class. In addition, the findings suggest that time-varying variables (attitudes and beliefs) and time-invariant variables (previous coursework, previous experiences, and teacher perceptions) are statistically significant predictors of efficacy class membership. Further, analyses suggest that the measures used to assess outcome expectancy are not suitable for LCA and LTA procedures.
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Banda, Asiana. "ZAMBIAN PRE-SERVICE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS' CHEMICAL REASONING AND ABILITY." OpenSIUC, 2014. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/796.
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The purpose of this study was two-fold: examine junior high school pre-service science teachers' chemical reasoning; and establish the extent to which the pre-service science teachers' chemical abilities explain their chemical reasoning. A sample comprised 165 junior high school pre-service science teachers at Mufulira College of Education in Zambia. There were 82 males and 83 females. Data were collected using a Chemical Concept Reasoning Test (CCRT). Pre-service science teachers' chemical reasoning was established through qualitative analysis of their responses to test items. The Rasch Model was used to determine the pre-service teachers' chemical abilities and item difficulty. Results show that most pre-service science teachers had incorrect chemical reasoning on chemical concepts assessed in this study. There was no significant difference in chemical understanding between the Full-Time and Distance Education pre-service science teachers, and between second and third year pre-service science teachers. However, there was a significant difference in chemical understanding between male and female pre-service science teachers. Male pre-service science teachers showed better chemical understanding than female pre-service science teachers. The Rasch model revealed that the pre-service science teachers had low chemical abilities, and the CCRT was very difficult for this group of pre-service science teachers. As such, their incorrect chemical reasoning was attributed to their low chemical abilities. These results have implications on science teacher education, chemistry teaching and learning, and chemical education research.
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Taylor, Neil. "Fiji pre-service primary teachers' understanding of physical science : a cultural perspective." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 1997. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/36559/2/36559_Digitised%20Thesis.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
Science and technology are promoted as major contributors to national development. Consequently, improved science education has been placed high on the agenda of tasks to be tackled in many developing countries, although progress has often been limited. In fact there have been claims that the enormous investment in teaching science in developing countries has basically failed, with many reports of how efforts to teach science in developing countries often result in rote learning of strange concepts, mere copying of factual information, and a general lack of understanding on the part of local students. These generalisations can be applied to science education in Fiji. Muralidhar (1989) has described a situation in which upper primary and middle school students in Fiji were given little opportunity to engage in practical work; an extremely didactic form of teacher exposition was the predominant method of instruction during science lessons. He concluded that amongst other things, teachers' limited understanding, particularly of aspects of physical science, resulted in their rigid adherence to the text book or the omission of certain activities or topics.
Although many of the problems associated with science education in developing countries have been documented, few attempts have been made to understand how non-Western students might better learn science. This study addresses the issue of Fiji pre-service primary teachers' understanding of a key aspect of physical science, namely, matter and how it changes, and their responses to learning experiences based on a constructivist epistemology.
Initial interviews were used to probe pre-service primary teachers' understanding of this domain of science. The data were analysed to identify students' alternative and scientific conceptions. These conceptions were then used to construct Concept Profile Inventories (CPI) which allowed for qualitative comparison of the concepts of the two ethnic groups who took part in the study. This phase of the study also provided some insight into the interaction of scientific information and traditional beliefs in non-Western societies.
A quantitative comparison of the groups' conceptions was conducted using a Science Concept Survey instrument developed from the CPis. These data provided considerable insight into the aspects of matter where the pre-service teachers' understanding was particularly weak.
On the basis of these preliminary findings, a six-week teaching program aimed at improving the students' understanding of matter was implemented in an experimental design with a group of students. The intervention involved elements of pedagogy such as the use of analogies and concept maps which were novel to most of those who took part. At the conclusion of the teaching programme, the learning outcomes of the experimental group were compared with those of a control group taught in a more traditional manner. These outcomes were assessed quantitatively by means of pre- and post-tests and a delayed post-test, and qualitatively using an interview protocol. The students' views on the various teaching strategies used with the experimental group were also sought.
The findings indicate that in the domain of matter little variation exists in the alternative conceptions held by Fijian and Indian students suggesting that cultural influences may be minimal in their construction. Furthermore, the teaching strategies implemented with the experimental group of students, although largely derived from Western research, showed considerable promise in the context of Fiji, where they appeared to be effective in improving the understanding of students from different cultural backgrounds. These outcomes may be of significance to those involved in teacher education and curriculum development in other developing countries.
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Marco-Bujosa, Lisa M. "Becoming an Urban Science Teacher: Beginning Teachers Negotiating Their Identities From Pre-service to In-service Teaching." Thesis, Boston College, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/bc-ir:107923.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis advisor: Katherine L. McNeillTeacher attrition rates are high in urban schools, particularly for new teachers and science and math teachers compared to other subjects (Ingersoll & May, 2012). Research indicates teachers who remain committed to teaching in high-need schools are unique; they tend to identify not just as teachers, but as teachers devoted to the mission of social justice and working with underserved students (Moore, 2008). Teacher education programs have an important role to play in the preparation of teachers within this social justice framework (Picower, 2012a). But, the transition from university preparation to in-service teaching is difficult (Beauchamp & Thomas, 2011), particularly for science teachers who encounter contradictory contexts in urban schools that undermine the pedagogical practices and mindsets learned in preparation (e.g. Rodriguez, 2015). However, little research has addressed how science teachers can be prepared to effectively bridge the divide between preparation and urban teaching. This dissertation utilizes the theoretical frameworks of identity (Gee, 2000) and agency (Archer, 2007) to address this gap in the literature. I employed a case study methodology of one cohort of four teachers from the Science Educators for Urban Schools (SEUS) program at Boston College, which serves as a critical case of an effective preparation program for urban science educators (Yin, 2013). Data, primarily interviews, surveys, and written reflections, were collected from study participants during preparation and their first year of teaching. The findings indicate the SEUS Scholars expressed a student-centered, inquiry-oriented approach to teaching science for social justice. While the SEUS Scholars struggled to implement their ideal science instruction as first year teachers given the contradictory contexts of urban schools, the social justice ideology of the pre-service program shaped their professional identity and feelings of agency. These findings illuminate the role of teacher preparation to support the development of: 1) a strong educational philosophy grounding their pedagogical approach to science teaching, and 2) pedagogical context knowledge to effectively navigate urban schools
Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018
Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education
Discipline: Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction
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Tuncay, Busra. "Moral Reasoning Of Pre-service Science Teacherstoward Local And Non-local Environmental Problems." Master's thesis, METU, 2010. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12611595/index.pdf.
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Based on the importance of environmental ethics in both causing and solving many of the environmental problems, the present study aimed to (1) Examine moral reasoning patterns (i.e. ecocentric, anthropocentric, non-environmental) of pre-service science teachers toward local and non-local environmental problems, (2) Investigate the effects of gender and grade level on moral reasoning patterns, and (3) Explain the factors that may have led to the observed differences in participants&rsquomoral reasoning patterns. Throughout 2008-2009 Fall and Spring semesters, environmental cases regarding local and non-local environmental problems were distributed to a convenience sample of 120 pre-service science teachers who were enrolled in Middle East Technical University and moral decision-making interviews (MDMIs) were carried out with a sub-sample of 16 pre-service science teachers. In accordance with the purpose of the study, descriptive statistics, paired-samples t-tests, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) tests as well as qualitative analysis of the interviews were utilized. Analyses demonstrated that participants of the study mostly exhibited ecocentric moral reasoning for both local and non-local environmental problems, and their ecocentric and anthropocentric concerns showed statistically significant difference with regard to problems&rsquo
locality. Moreover, while gender did not have a statistically significant effect on participants&rsquo
moral reasoning patterns, grade level did have a statistically significant effect. Finally, analysis of the interviews revealed sixteen factors effective in participants&rsquo
environmental concerns and their moral reasoning regarding environmental issues.
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Miranda, Martins Dominique. "The development of interdisciplinary teaching approaches among pre-service science and mathematics teachers." Thesis, McGill University, 2012. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=107875.
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This study sought to understand how a group of pre-service teachers in a combined secondary science and mathematics teaching methods course conceptualized and experienced interdisciplinary approaches to teaching. Although knowing how to plan interdisciplinary activities is an essential teaching practice in Quebec, these pre-service teachers faced many challenges during the process of learning to teach with this approach. By using two interdisciplinary frameworks (Nikitina, 2005; Boix Mansilla & Duraising, 2007), I qualitatively analyzed the development of the pre-service teachers' prior and emerging ideas about interdisciplinarity and their ability to plan interdisciplinary teaching activities. The provincial curriculum and issues related to time greatly shaped students' conceptions about interdisciplinarity in the classroom and constrained their ability to plan for and envision the enactment of interdisciplinary lessons in secondary science and mathematics classes. In addition, images of themselves as content-specialists, self-efficacy beliefs in relation to interdisciplinary teaching, and student learning as a source of teacher motivation emerged as key factors promoting or interrupting the development of interdisciplinary teaching approaches. Examination of these factors highlights the need for teacher-education programs to provide opportunities for pre-service teachers to explore how they see themselves as educators, increase their instructional self-efficacy beliefs, and motivate them to teach in an interdisciplinary fashion. Keywords: interdisciplinary teaching, student-teachers, curriculum, teacher-education program, self-efficacy, motivationCette étude a cherché à comprendre comment un groupe d'enseignants en formation qui suivaient un cours sur les méthodes d'enseignement combiné de science et de mathématique au secondaire conceptualisaient les démarches d'enseignement interdisciplinaire et en faisaient l'expérience. Même s'ils savent que le fait de planifier des activités interdisciplinaires est une pratique d'enseignement essentielle au Québec, ces futurs enseignants faisaient face à nombre de défis pendant le processus d'apprentissage de cette démarche d'enseignement. À l'aide de deux structures interdisciplinaires (Nikitina, 2005; Boix Mansilla & Duraising, 2007), j'ai réalisé une analyse qualitative de la progression des concepts antérieurs et émergents des enseignants en formation à l'égard de l'interdisciplinarité et de leur capacité à planifier des activités d'enseignement interdisciplinaire. Le cursus provincial et les enjeux relatifs au temps ont permis de donner une structure solide aux conceptions des étudiants quant à l'interdisciplinarité dans la classe, et ont freiné leur capacité de planifier et d'imaginer la réalisation de cours interdisciplinaires en science et en mathématique au secondaire. En outre, leur perception d'eux-mêmes à titre de spécialistes de contenu, le sentiment d'efficacité personnelle en lien avec l'enseignement interdisciplinaire et l'acquisition des connaissances des étudiants comme source de motivation pour l'enseignant ont émergé comme les facteurs clés faisant la promotion ou interrompant le développement de démarches d'enseignement interdisciplinaire. L'examen de ces facteurs met en lumière le besoin de programmes d'éducation qui offriraient aux futurs enseignants l'occasion d'explorer la façon dont ils se perçoivent en tant qu'éducateurs, d'augmenter leur sentiment d'efficacité personnelle et de les motiver à enseigner dans un mode interdisciplinaire. Mots clés : enseignement interdisciplinaire, étudiant-enseignants, cursus, programme d'éducation à l'intention des enseignants, sentiment d'efficacité personnelle, motivation
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Brand, Brenda R. "Influence of Pre-service Teachers' Beliefs about Diversity on Science Teaching and Learning." Diss., Virginia Tech, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/30460.
Full textAbstract:
The influences of the background experiences of five pre-service Science teachers on their beliefs about diversity were the focus for this study. These individuals were followed throughout their teacher preparation program. The data for this study consisted of interviews, conducted before and after entering the field. Data also consisted of any relevant written assignments. The data for this study were analyzed according to emerging themes, depicting initial beliefs and any changes in the beliefs occurring over time. The results of this study were organized into vignettes, telling each story from before and after the students entered the program. Three themes emerged from an analysis and interpretation of the vignettes: (1) Early life experiences shaped the pre-service teachers' sense of identity and influenced their beliefs on diversity, (2) Experiences with diversity influenced pre-service teachers' philosophy of teaching, and (3) Experiences with diversity during the teacher preparation program challenged or confirmed pre-service teachers' preexisting beliefs. The implications from this study suggest that pre-service teachers need challenging experiences in diverse classroom settings that will promote an expansion of their beliefs, enabling them to cross cultural borders.Ph. D.
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Nivens, Ryan Andrew. "Content Knowledge of Elementary Pre-Service Teachers." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2012. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/238.
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Irving-Bell, Dawne. "The formation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics teacher identities : pre-service teachers' perceptions." Thesis, Lancaster University, 2018. http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/127684/.
Full textAbstract:
Set within the context of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), this study explores the personal teaching philosophies of students (pre-service teachers) training to become qualified teachers, with the purpose of better understanding how participant’s perceptions of teaching are shaped by their previous experiences. It goes on to consider how these experience-related beliefs influence the formation of their individual identities as teachers. Outcomes emerging from the study show that the meaning pre-service teachers assign to their lived experiences play a significant role in their development. Nascent themes discussed include; subject knowledge, disciplinary differences and engendered approaches to STEM pedagogy. Presented as theoretical insights, this study highlights three key findings which are discussed within the context of policy and practice. The first describes the impact ‘weak’ subject knowledge has on an individual’s development, and findings show that where an individual believes their knowledge to be limited, development is restricted. The second presents a taxonomy of ‘self-sabotaging’ behaviours which arise from an individual’s inability to challenge their perceptions of ‘what a teacher should be’. Perceptions that have the potential to impact negatively on their identity formation. The third presents the concept of ‘identity drift’ and describes the incidence where an individual’s ideological values and beliefs and the reality of their classroom practice become unaligned. With the potential impact over time being that an individual is unable to reconcile their internalised identity from their external one, with teacher attrition being the likely consequence. Exploring the interrelations between outcomes, findings indicate there would be tangible benefits in facilitating strategies designed to support pre-service teachers to become more aware of the meaning they have assigned to their experience relatedbeliefs to support the development of their professional identities as teachers of STEM.
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Eliason, Kiya Lynn. "Addressing Pre-Service Teachers' Misconceptions About Confidence Intervals." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2018. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6917.
Full textAbstract:
Increased attention to statistical concepts has been a prevalent trend in revised mathematics curricula across grade levels. However, the preparation of secondary school mathematics educators has not received similar attention, and learning opportunities provided to these educators is oftentimes insufficient for teaching statistics well. The purpose of this study is to analyze pre-service teachers' conceptions about confidence intervals. This research inquired about statistical reasoning from the perspective of students majoring in mathematics education enrolled in an undergraduate statistics education course who have previously completed an introductory course in statistics. We found common misconceptions among pre-service teachers participating in this study. An unanticipated finding is that all the pre-service teachers believed that the construction of a confidence interval relies on a sampling distribution that does not contain every possible sample. Instead, they believed it is necessary to take multiple samples and build a distribution of their means. I called this distribution the Multi-Sample Distribution (MSD).
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Mushaikwa, Ngonidzashe. "Investigating Pre-service Natural Science Teachers’ perceptions of earth in space through spatial modelling and argumentation." University of the Western Cape, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/4427.
Full textAbstract:
Magister Educationis - MEdThis study involves a group of pre-service teachers who are specialising in Science and Mathematics education at a university in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The aim of the study was to investigate perceptions about the earth in space held by the pre-service natural science teachers. A related aim was to create awareness among the prospective teachers about various views that people hold about the earth as against the scientifically valid view (Govender, 2009, Plummer & Zahm, 2010, Schneps & Sadler, 1989). To determine and improve the prospective teachers’ perceptions and awareness about the significance of the earth in space the study adopted the dialogical argumentation model (DAIM) and spatial modelling as a theoretical framework (Ogunniyi, 2013). Further, the study used pre- and post-test data based on the responses of the pre-service teachers to questionnaires, focus group interviews and reflective diaries. The data set was analysed using a mixed methods approach (qualitative and quantitative). Results from the study show that most the pre-service teachers involved in the study hold both scientific and alternative conceptions about the earth in space. However, they seem to suppress the latter because they believe them to be unscientific. In addition they believe that their role is to impart scientific knowledge to learners. As has been revealed in a number of studies, some of the prospective teachers did not have much background in geography.
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Kattoula, Ehsan Habib. "Conceptual Change in Pre-Service Science Teachers' Views on Nature of Science When Learning a Unit on the Physics of Waves." Digital Archive @ GSU, 2008. http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/msit_diss/32.
Full textAbstract:
Recent reform efforts in science education have culminated in National Science Education Standards (NSES), which include the nature of science and science inquiry themes across all grade levels. Consideration must be given to pre-service science teachers’ nature of science conceptions and their perceived roles in implementing the nature of science in the science classroom. This qualitative study investigates how pre-service science teachers’ views about the nature of science develop and change when learning a college physics unit on waves in an urban university. The study uses case study methodology with four pre-service science teachers as individual units of analysis. Data regarding the participants’ views about the nature of science were collected before and after the instruction on the physics of waves unit. The research design used ‘The Views of Nature of Science/Views of Scientific Inquiry-Physics Questionnaire’ followed by structured interviews throughout the wave unit. In addition, the participants responded to daily questions that incorporated nature of science themes and constructed concept maps regarding the physics content and their nature of science understanding. After completing the VNOS/VOSI-PHYS questionnaire the pre-service science teachers’ views of the nature of science were found to be mainly naïve and transitional before the instruction. At the end of the wave unit instruction, the data indicated that conceptual change occurred in participants’ nature of science views, shifting toward informed views. The findings of this study provide evidence that using explicit instruction with specific activities, such as experiments and concept mapping, shifted the pre-service science teachers’ views away from naïve and toward informed.
32
Bender, Kathlyn M. "Everyday Physics: Listening to Pre-Service Teachers Reflect on Learning and Teaching Science Through Inquiry." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1181076412.
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Ritosa, Andrea. "Interventions Supporting Mathematics and Science In-service and Pre-service Teachers' Cultural Responsiveness : A Systematic Literature Review from 1995-2017." Thesis, Högskolan för lärande och kommunikation, Högskolan i Jönköping, HLK, CHILD, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-35746.
Full textAbstract:
Culturally responsive education has been an actual topic in teacher education for decades, but most teachers still finish their education without appropriate knowledge and skills for teaching in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms. Providing quality education to diverse learners remains a challenge, particularly in the fields of mathematics and sciences. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to describe intervention programs preparing in-service and pre-service math and science teachers for teaching in culturally diverse classrooms, and the outcomes of such programs. A search for scholarly journals evaluating such intervention programs has been carried out in several databases, resulting in nine articles included in the analysis. Intervention programs described in these articles covered several important aspects of culturally relevant education and had a limited success in developing cultural responsiveness of teachers. The construct of culturally relevant education is complex and multi-layered, and thus hard to measure without simplifying it to measurable constructs. Limitations of the study and implications for the future research and practice are discussed.
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Zhen, Shuyi. "Learning in a pre-service teacher residency program." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2015. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1749.
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Teacher educators worldwide are seeking ways to develop stronger links with schools, to improve the quality of initial teacher preparation. In this study the researcher investigated a residency approach to initial teacher education (ITE) in a one-year Graduate Diploma of Education course designed to prepare primary school teachers at a university in Western Australia. A mixed methods inquiry approach was employed to examine the nature and quality of the professional learning experiences of the pre-service teacher participants.
The Teacher Residency Program (TRP) was based on a medical residency model, with residents given a semester-length placement in two schools. Each placement provided a continuous two-day per week placement and concluded with a five-week fulltime block teaching experience. University course work complemented the in-school practical experience during each of the placement periods. The researcher used concurrent nested research design with quantitative data embedded in the qualitative data to explore the professional learning of the residents; Specifically, the researcher sought evidence of perspective transformation in the residents’ learning process, and a determination of how particular elements of the TRP supported or hindered residents’ professional development.
The findings indicate that the residents perceived their professional learning as one of continuous growth. The data confirm that the TRP provided a professionally oriented study of teaching that provided time and opportunity for cumulative learning from both course work and practical teaching. Through the lens of a transformative learning paradigm, the study found that individual development in the TRP varies considerably. Further the residents experienced perspective transformation relating to a range of aspects about learning to teach. The process of transforming perspectives about teaching and learning was multidimensional, individualistic and contextually dependent. Elements of the TRP that assisted residents’ professional development were the concurrent university course work integrated with extended clinical school placement; the opportunities for continuous two-day per week school placement; the block practicum and the two different school placement learning experiences. Aspects that appeared to hinder residents’ professional development were related to the quantity and quality of the university course work offered; the discrepancies that the residents experienced between what they studied about teaching and what they experienced in schools; differences between mentor teachers, and the length of the course. The findings of this study have implications relevant to other ITE programs for improving the learning outcomes of pre-service teachers.
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Al, Sultan Adam Ali. "THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRE-SERVICE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ SCIENTIFIC LITERACY AND THEIR SELF-EFFICACY IN TEACHING SCIENCE." OpenSIUC, 2016. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/1290.
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The purpose of this study is threefold. First, this study examined pre-service elementary teachers’ scientific literacy levels. Second, this study examined pre-service elementary teachers’ personal and subject-specific self-efficacy levels toward teaching science. Third, this study investigated the extent to which pre-service elementary teachers’ scientific literacy levels and subject-specific self-efficacy levels are related. This study involved 49 pre-service elementary teachers (4 male and 45 female) registered in two science methods courses at a mid-sized university in the Midwestern United States. Data were collected using the Test of Basic Scientific Literacy (TBSL), the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument-Preservice (STEBI-B), and Beliefs About Teaching (BAT). Results show that the pre-service elementary teachers in both groups had a satisfactory level of scientific literacy. There was a significant difference in the score for personal self-efficacy and subject-specific self-efficacy among the participants in the advanced science methods course. Participants in the advanced science methods course had an existing relationship between scientific literacy and subject-specific self-efficacy in teaching science. These results have implications on teacher preparation programs and science education research. Specifically, this study provided an indication of the level of scientific literacy and self-efficacy of pre-service elementary teachers as an attempt to inform policy makers and educational researchers about how realistic they are in their perception related to the pre-service elementary teachers’ skills to achieve the goals of science curriculum.
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Siseho, Simasiku Charles. "The effect of an argumentation instructional model on pre-service teachers' ability to implement a science-IK curriculum." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2013. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_6320_1381214891.
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This study investigated the effect of an Argumentation Instructional Model (AIM) on the preservice teachers&lsquo
ability to implement a Science-IK Curriculum in selected South African schools. I examined what instructional practices the pre-service teachers engage in when they introduce scientific explanation and whether those practices influence learners&lsquo
ability to construct scientific explanations during a natural science unit of a South African school curriculum. My study began with a pilot study of 16 pre-service science teachers who completed a B.Ed university module, Science for Teaching, which included an IK component. Data collection for main study took place from 2010 to 2011, and used questionnaires, face-to-face and reflective interview protocols, case studies, lesson plans and classroom observation schedules. I took videos and audios of each of the pre-service teacher&lsquo
s enactment of the focal lesson on argumentation and then coded the videotape for different instructional practices. The study investigated firstly, what currently informed teachers&lsquo
thinking, knowledge and action of IK. Secondly, the research questioned how teachers interpreted and implemented IK in the science classroom. A sample of the three pre-service teachers were followed into their classrooms to investigate how they specifically implemented Learning Outcome Three using argumentation instruction as a mode of instruction and what approaches relevant to the inclusion of IK were developed. The study found that the three pre-service teachers used three very different approaches through which IK was brought in the science curriculum. An assimilationist approach, that brings IK into science by seeking how best IK fits into science. A segregationist approach that holds IK side-by-side with scientific knowledge. Lastly, an integrationist approach makes connections between IK and science. The approaches developed by the pre-service teachers were found to be informed by their biographies, values, cultural backgrounds and worldviews. Meticulously, the study explored how shifts were being made from a theoretical phase at the university where the pre-service teachers engaged IK to an actual phase of implementation in their school science classrooms. Finally, I attempted to explain why the pre-service teachers interpreted and implemented IK in the way they did.
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Alharbi, Nawaf Nahiss Alsheatr. "Pre-service science teachers’ understanding of the concepts relating to diffusion, osmosis, and the particulate nature of matter and their attitudes towards science." Thesis, Curtin University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/490.
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This study investigated understanding of diffusion, osmosis and particle theory of matter concepts among pre-service science teachers in Saudi Arabia using a 17-item two-tier multiple choice diagnostic test that was adapted from two previously developed instruments in the research literature. The participants were 192 preservice science teachers from 15 Saudi Arabian teachers' colleges who were in the second and third years of a 4-year course leading to a bachelor degree. In addition, the study evaluated the pre-service science teachers’ attitudes to science using 30 items from the Test of Science-Related Attitudes (TOSRA) questionnaire. Analyses of their responses indicated that the total score for the eight diffusion and osmosis items ranged from 3 to 8, while the total score for the nine particle theory items ranged from 3 to 7. The correct responses to the osmosis and diffusion items and those to the particle theory items were significantly correlated (Pearson correlation = 0.42, p < 0.01).On the whole, correct responses to both tiers of the items of the diagnostic test were lower than those for the first tier only. For example, for the eight items on osmosis and diffusion, 60.4% to 93.4% of pre-service teachers provided correct responses to the first tier, whereas only 44.9% to 70.5% provided correct responses to both tiers. As for the nine items on the particle theory, 51.5% to 88.6% provided correct responses to the first tier, whereas only 41.0% to 63.0% provided correct responses to both tiers of the items. Pre-service teachers’ attitudes to science were evaluated using three dimensions of the TOSRA, namely, Adoption of Scientific Attitudes, Enjoyment of Science Lessons, and Attitude to Scientific Inquiry. The mean scores of these three dimensions of the TOSRA were highly correlated to each other, the Pearson correlations ranging from 0.44 to 0.49 with p < 0.01 in each case.Several alternative conceptions—that were held by more than 10% of the preservice teachers—were identified in this study. For osmosis and diffusion, these alternative conceptions included misconceptions about the difference between the two concepts, the process of osmosis itself, understanding of a semi-permeable membrane, and the effect of temperature on solubility. In the case of the particle theory, the alternative conceptions that were identified were related to understanding of changes of state, the process of dissolution, confusion between macroscopic and submicroscopic properties of substances, particle arrangement in the three states of matter, and diffusion in gases and liquids. Interviews with the pre-service teachers provided useful insights into their understanding of the concepts that were evaluated by the diagnostic test as well as about their confidence in teaching these concepts on completing their studies.The author recognised that there is need for developing a curriculum that will help pre-service teachers in understanding the basic concepts related to diffusion, osmosis and the particulate nature of matter. At the same time, classroom instruction in teachers’ colleges in Saudi Arabia should be more relevant to student teachers’ everyday experience in order that they may adopt more positive attitudes towards science.
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Baraz, Aytugba. "The Effect Of Using Metacognitive Strategies Embedded In Explicit-reflective Nature Of Science Instruction On The Development Of Pre-service Science Teachers." Master's thesis, METU, 2012. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12614871/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The current study aimed to investigate the effect of using metacognitive strategies embedded in explicit&ndashreflective NOS instruction to improve NOS understanding of pre-service science teachers. Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) (Schraw &
Dennison, 1994) and Views of Nature of Science Questionnaire (VNOS-C) (Lederman et al., 2001) were used both at the beginning and at the end of the study as a pre-test&ndash
post-test, comparison group, quasi-experimental design. A total of 33 pre-service science teachers (PSTs), 24 were female and 9 were male agreed to join the study voluntarily. These students were selected for this study while they were enrolling at their 5th semester in which they attended Methods of Teaching Science I course offered by the faculty of education at Middle East Technical University. Participants were divided into two groups namely comparison and intervention group. Explicit reflective NOS instruction was used in both groups, but metacognitive strategies additionally used in intervention group. Data analysis demonstrated that explicit reflective NOS instruction enhanced the development of understanding of NOS in both groups. Results also showed that metacognitive strategies improved the metacognitive awareness of intervention group participants. Although four of these metacognitive strategies and explicit reflective NOS instruction in present study provided a substantial increase in NOS understandings of PSTs in intervention group, chi-square analysis showed statistically no significant difference between comparison and intervention group participants&rsquo
post-test results.
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Cluff, Jennifer J. "Fraction Multiplication and Division Image Change in Pre-Service Elementary Teachers." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2005. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd921.pdf.
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Karaarslan, Guliz. "Fostering Pre-service Science Teachers Self Determined Motivation Toward Environment Through Satisfaction Of Three Basic Psychological Needs." Master's thesis, METU, 2011. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12612976/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this study was to examine pre-service science teachers&rsquoself-determined motivation toward environment and investigate how their basic psychological needs that support their self-determined motivation were fullfilled during the environmental course activities. The thesis includes two main parts: a quantitative part and a qualitative part. In the quantitative part of the study, PSTs&rsquo
motivation toward environment was measured before, after and five months later following the course activities. In the qualitative part of the study, how PSTs&rsquo
basic psychological needs were supported during the course activities was examined through multiple case study method. The study was implemented in an environmental science course. 33 pre-service science teachers who are taking the course participated in the study. Environmental problems which are Easter Island, Environment vs. Economy, Paper vs. Plastic, Ozone Depletion, Why Worry about Extinction?, Hasankeyf and Mamak Garbage Dump were discussed during the six course weeks. Five PSTs, who were chosen as a focus group, were interviewed each week after course discussions. The qualitative data were collected through interviews, discussion recordings, assignments and reflection papers. The results of the study illustrated that PSTs&rsquo
self determined motivation toward environment increased after the course activities and five months later following the course. PSTs&rsquo
negative capacity beliefs causing amotivation toward environment declined after the course activities and in follow up measurement. Finally, qualitative results of the study revealed that supporting cognitive and instructional features of PSTs during the course activities fullfilled their basic psychological needs and thus, fostered their self determined motivation toward environment.
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Ravikumar, Meera. "Pre-Service Elementary Teachers' Self-Efficacy Beliefs About Science Using Critical Incident Technique: A Case Study Approach." Doctoral diss., University of Central Florida, 2013. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/5843.
Full textAbstract:
The primary goal of this case study using qualitative and quantitative methods was to investigate pre-service elementary teachers' initial self-efficacy beliefs about science and science teaching by exploring the K-12 science experiences of these prospective elementary teachers. Of the 108 participants who completed the science teaching efficacy belief survey (STEBI-B) (Enochs & Riggs, 1990), 12 participants were selected to be interviewed using Flanagan's (1954) critical incident technique. Participants were asked to share their past positive and negative incidents during their K-12 years with science and science teachers. They were also asked to report how past incidents affected them at present and how they believed they would impact them as future teachers of science in elementary schools. The past positive and negative incidents were analyzed using Bandura's (1977) four sources of self-efficacy (mastery, vicarious, social persuasion, and physiological/emotional) and by school level; and the impact of the past science incidents on the subjects' present and future beliefs as science teachers were categorized. The results of this study revealed that pre-service elementary teachers' self-efficacy and beliefs were largely influenced by their past experiences with science in the K-12 years, and mastery experiences dominated as a source of self-efficacy. Implications for practice and recommendations for future research were made based on the findings of the study.Ph.D.
Doctorate
Dean's Office, Education
Education and Human Performance
Education; Science Education
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Abd-El-Aal, Wafaa Mohammed Moawad. "Towards practising constructivism in pre-service science teacher education programmes in Egypt : lessons from the British experience." Thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.441001.
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Rinchen, Sonam. "A study of the emotional climate of a science education class for pre-service teachers in Bhutan." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2014. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/72865/1/Sonam_Rinchen_Thesis.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis studied the emotional climate (EC) of a pre-service science teachers' class in Bhutan. It examined the types of activities students engaged in and the relationship between the tutor and students whose interactions produced both positive and negative EC in the class. The major finding was that the activities involving students' presentations using video clips and models, group activity, and coteaching valenced the class EC positively. Negative EC was identified when the tutor ignored students' responses, during formal lectures, and when the tutor was uncertain of the subject knowledge. The replication of activities that produce positive EC by other Bhutanese tutors may improve the standard of science education in the country.
44
Nhlengethwa, Khanyisile. "Effects of an explicit reflective approach on Swaziland pre-service elementary teachers' understanding of the Nature of Science." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/40397.
Full textAbstract:
In this study, the effects of an explicit reflective intervention on Swaziland elementary preservice
teachers’ understanding of the Nature of Science (NOS) were investigated. The factors
that had an impact on the development of participants’ NOS views were also investigated. The
intervention made use of de-contextualized and contextualized activities as well as historical
narratives as contexts for reflecting about the empirical, creative, subjective as well as the
tentative NOS. The intervention included a discussion of the relationships and differences
between observations and inferences as well as scientific laws and theories in the context of the
aforementioned learning activities. Participants were 24 elementary pre-service teachers enrolled for their final year of their three
year teacher development programme. An adapted version of the Views of Nature of Science
Questionnaire-Form C (VNOS-C) was used in conjunction with individual interviews, to assess
the participants’ understanding of NOS at the beginning and conclusion of the intervention. At
the end of the programme, data from interviews, concept maps and reflective journals of seven
participants were analysed to ascertain their perceptions of the elements of the course and other
factors that had an impact on their development of more informed NOS views. These
participants were selected on the basis of their differential gains in NOS understanding.
The data that was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques revealed that the
intervention brought about significant gains in some participants’ understanding of NOS.
Information obtained from the document analysis of journals and concept maps as well as exit
interviews of the selected group revealed that the pre-service teachers’ development of more
informed views was mediated by motivational and cognitive factors. These were the
participants’ perception of the value of teaching and learning NOS, their views about teaching
and learning science, and their ability to engage deeply with the NOS concepts as well as their
epistemic beliefs. The explicit reflective attention to NOS as well as metacognitive strategies
was reported by most of the selected participants as responsible for changes in their NOS views.Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
gm2014
Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
unrestricted
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Shelton, Mythianne. "Investigating How Nontraditional Elementary Preservice Teachers Negotiate the Teaching of Science." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/51285.
Full textAbstract:
This qualitative study was designed to investigate the influences on nontraditional pre-service teachers as they negotiated the teaching of science in elementary school. Based upon a sociocultural theoretical framework with an identity-in-practice lens, these influences included beliefs about science teaching, life experiences, and the impact of the teacher preparation program. The study sample consisted of two nontraditional pre-service teachers who were student teaching in an elementary classroom. Data, collected over a five-month period, included in-depth individual interviews, classroom observations, audio recordings, and reviews of documentations. Interviews focused on the participants' beliefs relating to the teaching of science, prior experiences, and their teacher preparation program experiences relating to the teaching of science. Classroom observations provided additional insights into the classroom setting, participants' teaching strategies, and participants' interactions with the students and cooperating teacher. A whole-text analysis of the interview transcripts, observational field notes, audio recordings, and documents generated eight major categories: beliefs about science teaching, role of family, teaching science int he classroom, teacher identity, non-teacher identity, relationships with others, discourse of classroom teaching, and discourses of teachers. The following significant findings emerged from the data: (a) the identity of nontraditional student teachers as science teachers related to early life experiences in science classes; (b) the identity of nontraditional student teachers as science teachers was influenced by their role as parents; (c) nontraditional student teachers learned strategies that supported their beliefs about inquiry learning; and (d) nontraditional student teachers valued the teach preparation program support system. The results from this qualitative study suggest that sociocultural theory with an identity-in-practice lens provides a theoretical frame work for understanding the influences that affect why nontraditional pre-service teachers select strategies to teach science in the elementary classroom.Ph. D.
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Englehart, Deirdre. "AN EXPLORATION OF HOW PRE-SERVICE EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS USE EDUCATIVE CURRICULUM MATERIALS TO SUPPORT THEIR SCIENCE TEACHING." Doctoral diss., University of Central Florida, 2008. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/2520.
Full textAbstract:
Research indicates that a proportion of elementary teachers are not comfortable teaching science to young children. These teachers are unaware of the best methods of approaching science and don't have the science background knowledge to support teaching through inquiry methods. This case study explores the role educative curriculum materials play in supporting pre-service early childhood education teachers' knowledge with science content and teaching practices. Specifically, I examine how educative materials impact pre-service teacher's content knowledge in science and their pedagogical content knowledge related to inquiry methods. Three pre-service early childhood teachers participated in this research. The teachers were initially interviewed about teaching science based upon three instruments: Views of Science Inquiry, Views of the Nature of Science and the Science Teachers Efficacy Beliefs Inventory. Each subject was observed teaching science in their internship site: the first lessons taught were guided or approved by their teachers and the next lessons were conducted using the support of educative curriculum materials. Finally, the initial instruments were once again administered along with an interview to obtain changes in teacher's knowledge, beliefs and understandings of science and science teaching. Results from this research indicate that educative curriculum was supportive of teachers in a variety of ways. Most importantly, this curriculum helped teachers to target more aspects of scientific inquiry during their science lessons than lessons without the use of educative curriculum. The important considerations regarding the effectiveness of the educative curriculum for these pre-service teachers were their underlying beliefs about how science should be taught, their uses of the curriculum materials and reflective practices regarding their own teaching. Results specifically related to early childhood educators include the level of inquiry implemented with young children and how children communicate their findings. Young children need support in their participation of inquiry learning. Successful implementation of guided inquiry practices occurred in this research. Also, the teachers in this research found insightful ways that directly supported young children in their communication of ideas. Implications for further research are also discussed. Educative materials could further support pre-service early childhood teachers if additional supports were used including accessible curricular rationales, support in classroom management and the specific use of guided inquiry.Ed.D.
Department of Educational Studies
Education
Curriculum and Instruction EdD
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Banda, Asiana. "ZAMBIAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRE-SERVICE SCIENCE TEACHERS' FAMILIARITY, INTEREST, PERFORMANCE, CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND PEDAGOGICAL IDEAS FOR ELECTROCHEMISTRY." OpenSIUC, 2012. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/884.
Full textAbstract:
The purposes of this study were (a) to examine Zambian Junior high school pre-service science teachers' familiarity with, interest in learning more about electrochemistry, and their conceptual understanding and performance on electrochemistry (b) to examine the pre-service science teachers' ability to identify misconceptions on electrochemistry and their pedagogical ideas on how to address the identified misconceptions in junior high school classrooms, and (c) to establish the extent to which pre-service science teachers' familiarity with, interest in, conceptual understanding of, performance on, and pedagogical ideas for, electrochemistry are related. The electrochemistry concepts examined in this study were categorized into basic and advanced concepts. A sample comprised 66 junior high school pre-service science teachers at Mufulira College of Education in Zambia. The study used a mixed methods research design, and data were collected using a questionnaire, performance test, and interviews. The first two instruments collected quantitative data which was analyzed using non-parametric tests - Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. The third instrument collected qualitative data which was analyzed by identifying the emerging themes that formed categories. The pre-service science teachers reported high familiarity and interest in the electrochemistry concepts examined. There were statistically significant differences in familiarity with and interest in all concepts among all the groups. The year in college and level at which electrochemistry was learned showed statistically significant differences for both familiarity and interest. Results further showed low pre-service science teachers' conceptual understanding and performance on electrochemistry test. Between group comparisons on conceptual understanding and performance were statistically significant for year in college and levels at which electrochemistry was learned. The pre-service science teachers interviewed exhibited inability to identify misconceptions in most scenarios on basic electrochemistry concepts. Furthermore, teachers' suggested pedagogical ideas for addressing the misconceptions comprised both learner-centered and teacher-centered instructional practices. As such, the pre-service science teachers' self-reported knowledge of electrochemistry was not consistent with their actual knowledge. Correlational analysis of familiarity, interest, conceptual understanding and performance revealed statistically significant correlations between familiarity and conceptual understanding, r(64) = 0.56, p = 0.000 and between performance and conceptual understanding r(64) = 0.64, p = 0.000 only. These results have implications for teacher education and science teaching and learning.
48
Braimoh, Durojaiye S. "The nature and quality of pre-service science teacher education and transition to teaching in Lagos State, Nigeria." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2008. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/225.
Full textAbstract:
The poor state of learning in pre-service science teacher education is typical. of the problems in the Nigeria education sector (Afe, 2001; Odubunmi, 2006; Okebukola, 2004). Little research based evidence about Nigerian pre-service science teacher education has been reported in the literature, however, this problem has been documented to be a common phenomenon among other African countries with similar programmes. This thesis reports a case study of the quality of a pre-seivice science teacher education programme in a Nigerian College of Education and the graduate teachers' transition to science teaching in Lagos State, Nigeria. Particular attention was given to issues which influence the quality of learning in the NCE science teacher education programme and transition to science teaching. The data were derived from the views and opinions of third year teacher education students, first-year junior secondary school science teachers, lecturers and other key stakeholders in science teacher education in Lagos State.
49
Szyjka, Sebastian. "Cognitive And Attitudinal Predictors Related To Graphing Achievement Among Pre-Service Elementary Teachers." OpenSIUC, 2009. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/43.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which six cognitive and attitudinal variables predicted pre-service elementary teachers' performance on line graphing. Predictors included Illinois teacher education basic skills sub-component scores in reading comprehension and mathematics, logical thinking performance scores, as well as measures of attitudes toward science, mathematics and graphing. This study also determined the strength of the relationship between each prospective predictor variable and the line graphing performance variable, as well as the extent to which measures of attitude towards science, mathematics and graphing mediated relationships between scores on mathematics, reading, logical thinking and line graphing. Ninety-four pre-service elementary education teachers enrolled in two different elementary science methods courses during the spring 2009 semester at Southern Illinois University Carbondale participated in this study. Each subject completed five different instruments designed to assess science, mathematics and graphing attitudes as well as logical thinking and graphing ability. Sixty subjects provided copies of primary basic skills score reports that listed subset scores for both reading comprehension and mathematics. The remaining scores were supplied by a faculty member who had access to a database from which the scores were drawn. Seven subjects, whose scores could not be found, were eliminated from final data analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted in order to establish validity and reliability of the Questionnaire of Attitude Toward Line Graphs in Science (QALGS) instrument. CFA tested the statistical hypothesis that the five main factor structures within the Questionnaire of Attitude Toward Statistical Graphs (QASG) would be maintained in the revised QALGS. Stepwise Regression Analysis with backward elimination was conducted in order to generate a parsimonious and precise predictive model. This procedure allowed the researcher to explore the relationships among the affective and cognitive variables that were included in the regression analysis. The results for CFA indicated that the revised QALGS measure was sound in its psychometric properties when tested against the QASG. Reliability statistics indicated that the overall reliability for the 32 items in the QALGS was .90. The learning preferences construct had the lowest reliability (.67), while enjoyment (.89), confidence (.86) and usefulness (.77) constructs had moderate to high reliabilities. The first four measurement models fit the data well as indicated by the appropriate descriptive and statistical indices. However, the fifth measurement model did not fit the data well statistically, and only fit well with two descriptive indices. The results addressing the research question indicated that mathematical and logical thinking ability were significant predictors of line graph performance among the remaining group of variables. These predictors accounted for 41% of the total variability on the line graph performance variable. Partial correlation coefficients indicated that mathematics ability accounted for 20.5% of the variance on the line graphing performance variable when removing the effect of logical thinking. The logical thinking variable accounted for 4.7% of the variance on the line graphing performance variable when removing the effect of mathematics ability.
50
Moran, Renee Rice, Monica T. Billen, Colleen P. Gilrane, and Amy D. Broemme. "Mentoring Doctoral Students via Internship: Widening the Circle of Pre-Service Education." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2011. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/3616.
Full textAbstract:
Two doctoral students and two faculty members will describe and evaluate their experiences using internship to mentor doctoral students into teaching preservice classes. Following discussion and critique by a literacy teacher educator who is also a department head, the audience will be invited to participate in co-constructing a model of an effective literacy teacher educator and a model of effective preparation for this role.