This study examined the views, and the retention of these views, of 19 preservice elementary teachers as they learned about nature of science (NOS). The preservice teachers participated in a cohort group as they took a science methods course during which they received explicit reflective instruction in nature of science. Through Views of Nature of…

This article describes how to assemble inquiry-oriented, materials-centered, multimedia unit packages to be prepared by elementary education students for use in student teaching. (PD)

This third annual publication contains ten articles written by college instructors who teach elementary science methods courses. Subjects considered include contract teaching, classroom techniques for isolating and culturing molds, science interests in the intermediate grades, a proposed program of science education for the elementary teacher,…

Teachers required to use an Elementary Science Study (ESS) unit during student teaching tended to use more of the techniques advocated by ESS in their own classes one year later than did teachers allowed to plan their own approach during student teaching. (AL)

Lack of confidence towards science is a major factor in the avoidance of teaching science at elementary school. This paper reports the results of a survey that asked 28 pre-service elementary teachers what they believed contributed to their confidence towards science and the teaching of science during a second year science unit where an holistic…

This document presents a description of a science education program which provides experiences in the affective, cognitive, and psychomotor domains. The methods course has no required textbook and is an activity-oriented course, requiring students to become acquainted with three of the national elementary science projects: Elementary Science Study…

Literature concerned with the preservice preparation of elementary school teachers in science and science teaching methods, both research studies and program guidelines, was reviewed along with studies of the status of elementary school science teaching. Most reports reviewed concluded that the present teacher education programs are an inadequate…

The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the effects of two modes of small-group instruction in an elementary science methods course upon the attitudes held by preservice elementary teachers related to science and the teaching of science. Eighty junior- and senior-level students enrolled in a course at Michigan State University were the…

The focus of this study was elementary preservice teachers' development as effective teachers of science and mathematics as influenced by their participation in elementary science and mathematics methods courses. Preservice teachers' reports of factors that influenced their perception of their teaching abilities were analyzed according to…

Reported is a study designed to determine (1) if there was any significant relationship between elementary teachers' realistic and idealistic attitudes toward selected science-related concepts, (2) if the degree of open- or closed-mindedness of the teachers had any relationship to these realistic or idealistic attitudes, and (3) if instruction had…

This is the report of a study designed to (1) examine the status of teacher-training preparation in the new elementary science programs in methods classes of institutions in Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, (2) identify characteristics of the methods courses, and (3) examine opinions of the instructors about the new science…

Investigated were the effects of a modified elementary science education methods course on creative thinking, self-evaluation and achievement. Involved were 30 experimental and 39 control undergraduate elementary science education methods course students. Controls were given usual laboratory sessions and written assignments. Experimental…