ERIC Number: EJ960285
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0332-3315
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Impact of a Curriculum Course on Pre-Service Primary Teachers' Science Content Knowledge and Attitudes towards Teaching Science
Murphy, Cliona; Smith, Greg
Irish Educational Studies, v31 n1 p77-95 2012
Many primary school teachers have insufficient content and pedagogical knowledge of science. This lack of knowledge can often lead to a lack of confidence and competence in teaching science. This article explores the impact of a year-long science methodology (curriculum science) course on second year Bachelor of Education (BEd) students' conceptual and pedagogical knowledge of science and on their attitudes towards teaching science in the primary classroom. A questionnaire, containing closed and open questions, was administered to students at the beginning and end of their science methodology course. The findings revealed that the science course had a positive impact on developing students' scientific content knowledge. While the students were positive about the prospect of teaching science, insufficient scientific content knowledge was a concern for many of them, as were concerns over various teaching methodologies and classroom management issues in teaching science. The findings of this study are worrying, as it is likely that high percentages of these students will enter the teaching profession with similar inaccurate conceptions of science as the students they will be teaching. (Contains 2 tables and 6 figures.)
Descriptors: Classroom Techniques, Teaching (Occupation), Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Teaching Methods, Science Curriculum, Elementary School Teachers, Preservice Teachers, Student Teacher Attitudes, Science Instruction, Methods Courses, Elementary School Science, Questionnaires
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Education; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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