ERIC Number: EJ1120634
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 34
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0126-7663
EISSN: N/A
Learning Opportunities for Pre-Service Science Teachers in a Core Course on Educational Psychology: Changing Epistemological View
Azam, Saiqa
Journal of Science and Mathematics Education in Southeast Asia, v39 n1 p76-108 2016
This paper describes an action research study aimed at challenging and changing the epistemological views of pre-service science teachers (PSTs) during a core course on educational psychology in a teacher education programme. The researcher, as an instructor, used this course to provide learning opportunities for PSTs to change their existing traditional views about learning and to develop a constructivist view of learning and teaching science. To capture PSTs' epistemological views and to follow changes in these views, data were collected in the form of written reflections of student teachers about their views on learning and teaching science, at the beginning and the end of the course. During the course, student teachers explored various paradigms of learning and relevant learning theories in the context of science education. Student teachers were encouraged to reflect on and discuss their own experiences of learning science and possible options for future science teaching. Analysis of the data collected demonstrated a significant shift in the PSTs' views about science learning. The action research provides evidence for the effectiveness of the core course and suggests a plan of action for the future to improve the course, aiming at changing the views of student teachers about learning and teaching science.
Descriptors: Educational Psychology, Epistemology, Preservice Teachers, Science Education, Educational Opportunities, Action Research, Science Instruction, Science Achievement, Pretests Posttests, Attitude Change, Student Teacher Attitudes, Beliefs, Constructivism (Learning), Secondary School Science, Foreign Countries, Qualitative Research, Statistical Analysis
Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics (SEAMEO RECSAM). Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 11700 Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia. Tel: +011-60-4-658-3266; Fax: +011-60-4-657-2541; e-mail: director@recsam.edu.my; Web site: http://www.recsam.edu.my/index.php/resources/journal-of-science-and-mathematics-education-in-southeast-asia
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Pakistan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A