The purpose of this 2-year study was to investigate Malawian teacher educators' perspectives and dispositions toward teaching about ecological sustainability issues in Malawi, a developing country in sub-Sahara Africa. This study was embedded in a larger theoretical framework of investigating earth systems science through the understanding of…

Analyzes demographic data about secondary science methods faculty regarding the faculty member's professional preparation, content of the methods course, secondary teaching experience, and information about the individual. Some implications for teacher education are included. (YP)

Reports on a study of teacher education programs for science teachers in New England. Focuses on data regarding the amount and types of science content and secondary science methods courses, program emphasis in science content, science processes and methods, science teaching techniques, and effectiveness of science preparation. (TW)

Reports no significant differences between the attitudes toward science teaching of students in campus-based and field-based teacher preparation programs. However, field-based teachers (N=39) were significantly more custodial in their pupil control ideology than teachers (N=43) in the campus-based program. (JN)

This study, conducted by the University of Southern Mississippi in cooperation with the Hattiesburg public schools, investigated the impact of activity-centered science lessons (taught by prospective elementary school teachers) on the attitudes of upper elementary (grades 4-6) children toward science. (HM)

Examines the effects of a science methods course on the attitudes of the preservice elementary teachers (n=145) toward teaching science. Results indicated a significant positive change in attitude that was not significantly different for low and high science achievers. (MDH)

Investigates preservice elementary teachers' theories about science teaching and learning through their reflections on integrated media case-based instruction. Constructs a profile of the teachers' images of themselves as future science teachers. Contains 43 references. (DDR)

Describes and analyzes two science methods courses at the elementary and secondary levels for how they addressed four ideas: (1) how students learn science; (2) how teachers teach science to students; (3) how prospective science teachers learn about the first two ideas; and (4) how methods instructors teach prospective science teachers about the…

This study assessed, and identified factors in participants' learning ecologies that mediated, the effectiveness of an explicit reflective instructional approach that satisfied conditions for learning as conceptual change on preservice elementary teachers' views of nature of science (NOS). Participants were 28 undergraduate students enrolled in an…

Examined elementary and secondary education students' attitudes and understanding of science processes prior to taking methods courses, immediately after completing the courses, and upon completing their practice teaching experiences. Implications based on differences in attitudes between the two levels (including negative attitudes for secondary…

Interpretive analysis of preservice teachers' writings and discussions during an elementary-science methods course identified the teachers' positivist views of knowledge, learning, and teaching as prominent tools for guiding understanding of and reaction to ideas of teaching science to diverse student populations. Discusses the impact on teachers'…

Reports on the development and implementation of the "Introductory Science Teacher Education" (ISTE) package as a pilot program for preservice science teachers. Demonstrates the significant effect of the ISTE program over traditional methods was that teachers developed a better understanding of the nature of science and acquired more…

The impact of field experience on attitudes toward science and science teaching of 80 prospective elementary teachers at East Carolina University was investigated. (HM)

Discussed is the elementary science teacher curriculum and its role in students' interest in science. Qualifications, teacher attitudes about science, college preparation, hands-on experience, science instruction, science method instruction, and the role of the administrator are described in terms of effective elementary science programs. (KR)

Reports on a survey of elementary, middle, high school, and university science teachers. Results indicate that teacher education programs reflect little commitment to preparing or in-servicing science teachers to work effectively with students who have disabilities. Contains 31 references. (DDR)