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ERIC Number: EJ1104652
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1450-104X
EISSN: N/A
An Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary Teachers' Understanding of Inquiry-Based Science Teaching
Lee, Carole K.; Shea, Marilyn
Science Education International, v27 n2 p217-237 2016
This study examines how pre-service elementary teachers (PSETs) view inquiry-based science learning and teaching, and how the science methods course builds their confidence to teach inquiry science. Most PSETs think that inquiry is asking students questions rather than a formal set of pedagogical tools. In the present study, three groups of PSETs (n = 14, 20, 20) were included. For each group, pretest and posttest attitudes and knowledge base were assessed using a 32 item questionnaire combining twenty-six Likert-type and six open-ended questions as well as half-hour semi-structured one-on-one interviews. Results from the pretest questionnaires showed that most PSETs had simplistic views of inquiry-based teaching. The instructor was able to modify the science methods course (the intervention phase) to focus on the concepts of science-based inquiry teaching that were shown to be lacking in the PSETs' knowledge base. The analysis of the post-test questionnaire showed significant increase on 17 of the 26 Likert-type questions reflecting increases in PSETs' understanding of inquiry-based teaching. The study shows PSETs' understanding of inquiry-based science teaching is a key step to build their confidence and efficacy of teaching science.
International Council of Associations for Science Education. Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Education, Buca, Izmir 35150, Turkey. Tel: +90-532-4267927; Fax: +90-232-4204895; Web site: http://icaseonline.net
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
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