ERIC Number: EJ1038984
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Oct
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1046-560X
EISSN: N/A
The Science Semester: Cross-Disciplinary Inquiry for Prospective Elementary Teachers
Ford, Danielle J.; Fifield, Steve; Madsen, John; Qian, Xiaoyu
Journal of Science Teacher Education, v24 n6 p1049-1072 Oct 2013
We describe the Science Semester, a semester-long course block that integrates three science courses and a science education methods course for elementary teacher education majors, and examine prospective elementary teachers' developing conceptions about inquiry, science teaching efficacy, and reflections on learning through inquiry. The Science Semester was designed to provide inquiry-oriented and problem-based learning experiences, opportunities to examine socially relevant issues through cross-disciplinary perspectives, and align with content found in elementary curricula and standards. By the end of the semester, prospective elementary teachers moved from naïve to intermediate understandings of inquiry and significantly increased self-efficacy for science teaching as measured on one subscore of the STEBI-B. Reflecting on the semester, prospective teachers understood and appreciated the goals of the course and the PBL format, but struggled with the open-ended and student-directed elements of the course.
Descriptors: Inquiry, Interdisciplinary Approach, Preservice Teacher Education, Elementary School Curriculum, Elementary School Science, Methods Courses, Science Education, Education Majors, Problem Based Learning, Learning Experience, Culturally Relevant Education, Alignment (Education), Self Efficacy, Science Instruction, Active Learning, Participant Satisfaction, Teaching Methods, Integrated Curriculum
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A