Describes selected findings and discusses effects of an inservice program which focused on the skills and competencies of teacher participants. Factors studied include the effect of the respective ages of the participants on competency, the time of year when the program was taken, and prior knowledge of program implementation. (GS)

Studied the consistency and formation of teacher's judgements about child's abilities by having science methods course undergraduates watch two 10-minute video-taped lessons conducted among nine children. Indicated the most agreement on two extremes and the use of children's accomplishment speeds as judgment criteria. (CC)

Discusses the behavioristically- and humanistically-oriented positions in teacher education, and suggests an eclectic approach to methods course implementation applicable to both elementary and secondary level science. (CC)

The purpose of this developmental study was to use the theory of reasoned action to construct a message to persuade elementary teachers to teach energy conservation practices to children. The six steps followed in the project are discussed. An energy conservation persuasive message and the results of the validation are provided. (YP)

Describes a sequence of three Unified Science courses for elementary education majors. The use of required and optional learning modules provides the student with knowledge of new curricula, environmental studies, and science processes in all areas of science, and provides experiences in group interaction and personalized student-teacher…

Results of a national survey to determine state certification requirements for elementary school teaching were analyzed to determine the amount of science content required. Very few states appear to be mandating sufficient science training to ensure that elementary school teachers are prepared to teach science. (PB)

Focuses on the relationships of the teacher's affective attributes, concerning both interest and attitude, and measures of teaching behaviors of elementary grade preservice teachers (N=148) consistent with instructional methodology of the SCIS curriculum. Results include a confirmation that a field-oriented treatment yields significant changes in…

Describes an inservice training program for elementary and junior high school teachers that sought to enhance teachers' knowledge of physical science and skills of science instruction. Presents test data on participants' knowledge of science content, attitudes toward science, and beliefs about science teaching. (ML)

Describes the development, revision, and partial validation of an instrument to assess preservice elementary teachers' process orientation toward science. Suggests that the Process Orientation Toward Science Scale (POTSS) be used as a diagnostic measure of preservice elementary teachers' process orientation toward science and understanding of the…

Determined if a written, persuasive communication would positively affect the attitudes of preservice teachers (N=98) and if the communication would differently affect subjects rated on three levels of self-esteem. Results indicate written persuasive communication could change the attitudes of the preservice elementary teachers in this study. (JN)

Evaluates a new course for prospective elementary teachers entitled Basic Science Skills, designed to give students background in science, to show use of science materials and methods, and to promote positive attitudes toward science and science teaching. Math anxiety is suggested as a confounding factor in interpreting the results. (CS)

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)

Perceptions of mentors' practices related to primary science teaching from nine Australian universities (N = 331 final-year preservice teachers) were gathered through a literature-based instrument. Five factors that characterize effective mentoring practices in primary science teaching were supported by confirmatory factory analysis. These…

Explains the convergent and discriminant validity of two tests of science process skills with two tests of formal reasoning ability. Reports test results from elementary education majors and discusses the tests' intercorrelations. Implications related to instruction are analyzed. (ML)

Examined the effects different communicators (science methods instructors, supervisors, graduate assistants, and others) had on the attitudes of 25 elementary education majors toward science and science teaching, focusing on which communicators were perceived as being the most credible. (DH)