Describes the science teacher education program developed by the faculty of Richmond College of the City University of New York, in which a close working relationship has been established with the cooperating teachers. Both student teachers and the cooperating classroom teachers enthusiastically endorse the effectiveness of this student teaching…

Presented is a description of the Childhood Education Program at the University of Florida that is intended to prepare preservice elementary teachers for dealing with science in the classroom. Emphasis is on learning to use a student observation rating form (STORF) which is included in the paper. (SA)

Presented is a trial version of a teaching module which is part of a Modular Methods Course in the Elementary School Science Education at the University of Georgia. The general and specific performance objectives are presented as well as an outline syllabus of learning activities designed to help in the achievement of these objectives. Topics…

The purpose of this study was to develop an instructional procedure which would give student teachers alternative verbal behaviors which could be used in lieu of rating behaviors and to measure the effectiveness of the treatment. The data used were taken from 15-minute audio tapes of science lessons which each of 54 subjects presented to his: (1)…

Recommendations from British Columbia teachers in elementary (N=1322) and junior secondary schools (N=309) indicate strong support for emphasis on practical aspects of preservice teacher education. Practice in science teaching, techniques of science teaching, and lesson planning were rated highest. Laboratory safety, reading, and writing should…

The aims of this project were to explore the challenges faced by Scottish primary teachers in implementing the science and technology aspects of the Environmental Studies guidelines, to illuminate the extent to which any problems might be related to their own understanding of those ideas they were expected to teach, and to assess the extent to…

Belief in the ability to teach or to teach a particular subject can help fuel success in the first stages of a teaching career. The need for a reliable instrument with which to probe preservice elementary teachers' self-efficacy beliefs in the teaching of science led to the development of two versions of a teacher efficacy scale that were tested…

This self-study was designed to explore problem based learning (PBL) as an instructional approach in the context of a large preservice science education course. It addressed how the teacher educator would structure PBL to foster student engagement in learning, how she would enhance her own pedagogical content knowledge through the self-study, and…

This paper describes the development of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in secondary chemistry and physics preservice teachers. Teacher beliefs are intricately tied to how they make decisions for implementing instructional strategies, and those beliefs aid in the development of pedagogical content knowledge. A model for pedagogical content…

This study reports the use of a valid and reliable instrument, "Attitudes and Beliefs About the Nature of and the Teaching of Mathematics and Science," to measure teacher candidates' attitudes and beliefs about the nature of mathematics and science teaching. This paper examines how teacher candidates felt over 3 years. Teacher candidates…

Investigates changes in preservice teachers' conceptions about projectile motion brought about by a combination of reading and demonstration and appeal to usefulness. Results indicate the effectiveness of a combined Demo-Text condition on immediate posttests and effectiveness of text in producing long-term change. Analysis also indicates an…

Argues that the current cohort of teachers is not comfortable with science and avoids teaching science because of ignorance, disinterest, and lack of support from school authorities. Also states that scientists have doubts about the current university curriculum for teachers. (DDR)

Describes the Learning Matrix digital library which focuses on improving the preparation of math and science teachers by supporting faculty who teach introductory math and science courses in two- and four-year colleges. Suggests it is a valuable resource for school library media specialists to support new science and math teachers. (LRW)

Examined the effects on preservice science teachers in Ghana of the School Attachment Program, which promoted links between the college and local schools, allowing preservice teachers to practice teaching and develop professional relationships. Responses from participating preservice teachers, practicing teachers, and principals were positive,…

The model Iowa-UPSTEP (Undergraduate Preservice Science Teacher Education Program) practicum series of field experiences at the University of Iowa is described. Participants begin in elementary schools (to change their behaviors away from the traditional teacher-centered science classroom) and progress to full student teaching in a science…