ERIC Number: EJ682036
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Oct-8
Pages: 20
Abstractor: Author
Reference Count: 57
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-0693
Science Teachers as Metascientists: An Inductive-Deductive Dialectic Immersion in Northern Alpine Field Ecology. Research Report
Bencze, Larry; Elshof, Leo
International Journal of Science Education, v26 n12 p1507-1526 Oct 2004
Efforts to promote more realistic conceptions about science are often limited by teachers' inexperience in this domain. In this paper, we describe an 'inductive-deductive, dialectic immersion' approach towards assisting teachers in developing more realistic conceptions about science--along with corresponding revised perspectives about science teaching. Three secondary teachers of science with minimal science research experience engaged in a case study of science in action--specifically, in an episode of northern alpine ecological field research. Qualitative data analyzed by constant comparative methods suggested that these teachers shifted along a modernist through postmodernist continuum--as indicated by increased support for a more Naturalist epistemology of science, a more Antirealist ontology of science, and corresponding priorities towards science teaching and learning. Results suggest that teachers of science can develop postmodern views about science and science teaching if given opportunities to induce and deduce propositions about science in realistic cases of science in action.
Descriptors: Teaching Methods, Epistemology, Ecology, Science Teachers, Science Education, Secondary School Science, Scientific Research, Thinking Skills, Concept Formation, Teacher Competencies, Field Studies, Secondary School Teachers, Case Studies, Logical Thinking, Scientific Concepts
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

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