Literature indicates that the "National Science Education Standards" ("NSES") teaching standards and inquiry-based teaching strategies for science are not uniformly incorporated into the elementary science methods (eSEM) courses across the U.S. and that field experiences might not provide appropriate models of the inquiry-based science pedagogy…

Fifteen 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-grade teachers from five school districts each taught two sections of science--one with a Science-Technology-Society (STS) approach and the other with a more traditional textbook approach in which basic science concepts were the major organizers. Local, current, and personally relevant issues provided the context and…

This pilot study investigated the effect of community-based service learning on the self-efficacy beliefs of preservice elementary teachers in regards to equitable science teaching and learning. Using the Self-Efficacy Beliefs About Equitable Science Teaching (SEBEST) instrument (Ritter, Boone, & Rubba, 2001), pre- and posttest data from 32…

This qualitative study looks at 23 elementary preservice teachers' roles as science teachers and the importance of understanding linguistic diversity for science instruction. Using individual and group reflection papers, two important points are made that reflect the importance of preparing preservice teachers in science. Explicit conversations…

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of learner characteristics and preservice teachers' views of nature of science (NOS) prior to formal instruction. Learner characteristics investigated included metacognitive awareness, self-efficacy, attitudes toward science teaching, Perry's intellectual and ethical developmental levels,…

The Science Belief Test is an online instrument comprised of 47 statements that require true or false responses and request written explanations to accompany these responses. It targets topics in chemistry, physics, biology, earth science, and astronomy and was initially designed to assess preservice elementary teachers' beliefs about general…

Through a century-long process, there has been a resolute effort to shape science teaching in elementary classrooms. A close look at science teaching and student learning may provide a better understanding of what really happens in elementary classrooms. This study examines relationships between science teaching pedagogy, teachers' science…

Historically, elementary science teacher inservice has not been an effective means of improving science teaching for most elementary teachers. "Guidelines for Effective Elementary Science Teacher Inservice Education" were developed by Klein (2001) to address this need. This paper illustrates, through a review of program evaluation documentation,…

Examines preservice elementary teachers' constructs for analyzing their own conceptual change classroom practice. Reports that the candidates used six student-oriented and seven teacher-oriented evaluation criteria and the five most frequent categories were all student-oriented. Suggests that the candidates were using a constructivist framework to…

Used a three-phase constructivist teaching sequence in a graduate-level elementary science methods course to improve preservice teachers' knowledge of density and to provide a model for approaching the teaching of science. Reports that the preservice teachers (n=23) showed gains in content knowledge and self-reported confidence levels. (Author/JRH)

Describes the experiences of five mature-age preservice elementary teachers in a semester unit of science education designed to help teachers examine and make explicit their ideas about science and science teaching. Reports that the teachers expressed a need for a supportive environment in which concepts were built gradually and introduced using…

Reports on program effectiveness for the Teacher Internship Program for Science (TIPS), a museum-school partnership. Survey results show that significantly more TIPS teachers involved their students in various science instruction activities, and TIPS teachers rated their students higher in interest in and understanding of science. (LZ)

Presents a series of outstanding examples of excellence in science teaching. Criteria for both outstanding elementary education and the characteristics of outstanding teachers are listed. (PR)

Assessed the impact of intensive one-week "An Integrated Mathematics and Science" (AIMS) institutes on participant satisfaction and on actual classroom practices during the year following the institute. Findings indicate that participating teachers (n=142) had a high degree of satisfaction. Changes in teaching and content were made by…

By comparing pretests and posttests of elementary school teachers trained in the Full Option Science System, it is concluded that teachers showed gains in teacher confidence, science content knowledge, and attitude toward teaching science. (PR)