In recent years there has been a strong emphasis on the value of various applications of information and communication technology as tools to support teaching and learning. One tool that has been given prominence is the Internet and in order to attain Qualified Teacher Status in England, student teachers are required to demonstrate an ability to…

The nature of science (NOS) has a prominent role among the national science education content standards at all grade levels, K-12. Results from a national survey of collegiate science educators indicate the perception that the greatest contributors to preservice teachers' understanding of the nature of science were science methods courses,…

This document reports the results of a survey of 200 inservice high school biology teachers to determine preservice competencies necessary for high school biology teachers. Forty competencies were identified as necessary including: laboratory experience, techniques for instruction, laboratory management, preparation of laboratory materials,…

This document focuses on implications for the design of preservice education programs for science and mathematics teachers. It is assumed that the goal is to prepare effective teachers, so the literature devoted to teacher effectiveness is first examined. This material is primarily aimed at improvement in Australia, but the concepts and issues…

An attempt was made to develop an appropriate teaching model to aid perspective science teachers acquire teaching skills and behavioral patterns appropriate for inquiry-oriented laboratory activities and experiments. Data were collected from two groups of secondary science methods students on their verbal behavior while in the role of laboratory…

Presented is a description of a research project related to the use of two modes of instruction, the abstract mode and the applied mode, and gains made from them. A secondary purpose of the investigation was to compare student gains according to area of interest. The writer selected one of the processes of science, the process of measuring, which…

Presented is a description of a study done to assess an undergraduate science methods course. The subjects involved in the study were 82 elementary education majors at Louisiana State University. Students not in the course served as a comparison group. The treatment group participated in science activities selected from ESS, SCIS, and SAPA…

Relationships which existed between intelligence, process, attitude toward teacher-pupil relationship, and content in physical science were examined, along with differences between IQ levels and treatment groups for outcomes in content, process, and attitude. Ninety prospective elementary teachers were involved in the study. Instruments used were:…

Investigated are the influences of the university professor and the supervising teacher on the student teacher during and after the student teaching experience. The participants were 3 university professors who had taught the science methods course, 20 elementary education majors and 20 supervising teachers. A Q-Sort Deck of 65 brief statements of…

Reports on a study designed to compare the effects of two instructional treatments in which the experimental treatment emphasized self-management, goal clarification, and individualized course expectations. An increase in science locus of control was found to be significant for the experimental group. (TW)

Describes an experimental model for preservice and inservice programs for elementary teachers based on the collaborative efforts of a county school system and a university. Explains program components and highlights the benefits that have resulted from this type of approach. (ML)

Defies the assumption that laboratory teaching skills are gained by preservice secondary science education majors through their undergraduate science programs, and presents expertise areas which every teacher should possess. Outlines activities for each skill which can become part of a methods course under the direction of science educators. (DH)

Discusses the potential impact of the National Science Teachers Association's (NSTA) certification standards on the future of science teacher education. Delineates NSTA's involvement with the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and its role in the accreditation process. Outlines procedures of the review process. (ML)

Determined that the majority of 299 preservice teachers did not use formal reasoning patterns when they attempted to solve a variety of problems. Results obtained for controlling variables and for proportional, probabilistic, correlational, and combinatorial reasoning are discussed with implications for middle/junior high school science teaching.…

This paper discusses the use of rubrics in a preservice science methods course. Section 1 explains that a rubric is a standard of performance for a defined population. It is also the guidelines laid out for judging student work on performance-based tasks. In science education, it is a purposeful and appropriate construct that articulates varying…