ERIC Number: EJ785009
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Apr
Pages: 27
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1046-560X
EISSN: N/A
Awakening the Scientist Inside: Global Climate Change and the Nature of Science in an Elementary Science Methods Course
Matkins, Juanita Jo; Bell, Randy L.
Journal of Science Teacher Education, v18 n2 p137-163 Apr 2007
This investigation assessed the impact of situating explicit nature of science (NOS) instruction within the issues surrounding global climate change and global warming (GCC/GW). Participants in the study were 15 preservice elementary teachers enrolled in a science methods course. The instructional intervention included explicit NOS instruction combined with explicit GCC/GW instruction situated within the normal elementary science methods curriculum. Participants' conceptions of NOS and GCC/GW were assessed with pre- and postadministrations of open-ended questionnaires and interviews. Results indicated that participants' conceptions of NOS and GCC/GW improved over the course of the semester. Furthermore, participants were able to apply their conceptions to decision making about socioscientific issues. The results provide support for context-based NOS instruction in an elementary science methods course.
Descriptors: Preservice Teachers, Elementary School Science, Methods Courses, Teacher Education Curriculum, Scientific Principles, Climate, Preservice Teacher Education, Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts, Teaching Methods
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A