ERIC Number: EJ852829
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Sep
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0926-7220
EISSN: N/A
A Research-Informed Instructional Unit to Teach the Nature of Science to Pre-Service Science Teachers
Aduriz-Bravo, Agustin; Izquierdo-Aymerich, Merce
Science & Education, v18 n9 p1177-1192 Sep 2009
In this paper we discuss the foundations and process of design of a research-informed instructional unit aimed for pre-service science teacher education. The unit covers some key ideas on the nature of science (around methodology, theory change, scientific inference and explanation, values, gender issues) anchoring them in a well-known episode from the history of science--the "discovery" of radium by the Curies. Such episode is mainly examined as reconstructed in the 1997 French commercial film "Les Palmes de Monsieur Schutz". Pre-service science teachers are required to solve three tasks, individually and in small groups; those tasks are respectively centred around: (1) the distinction between "discovering" and "inventing"; (2) scientific modelling via abduction; and (3) the extended hagiographic treatment of the figure of Madame Curie. Plenary debates around the tasks aim at acquainting pre-service science teachers with some powerful concepts of twentieth century philosophy of science.
Descriptors: Science Teachers, Gender Issues, Instructional Design, Preservice Teacher Education, Scientific Principles, Education Courses, Preservice Teachers, Science Instruction, Units of Study, Science History, 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 - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A