The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Framework for K-12 Science Education (NRC, 2012) on which they are based, describe a new vision for science education that includes having students learn science in a way that more closely aligns to how scientists and engineers work and think. Accomplishing this goal will require teacher…

This study explored pre-service teachers' conceptual understanding and performance on science process skills. A sample comprised 91 elementary pre-service teachers at a university in the Midwest of the USA. Participants were enrolled in two science education courses; introductory science teaching methods course and advanced science methods course.…

In this paper we present findings from a project that documented the development of preservice teachers' beliefs and practices in delivering science instruction that considers issues of language and culture. Teacher candidates in the intervention group (n = 65) received a science methods course and teaching practicum experience that provided…

This article provides an instructional approach to helping students generate open-inquiry research questions, which the authors call the "open-inquiry question template." This template was created based on their experience teaching high school science and preservice university methods courses. To help teachers implement this template, they…

Reports on selected opinions of secondary science methods instructors and their students concerning the new science courses and inquiry teaching, based on the Research on Science Education Survey conducted with 37 colleges and universities from October 1967 to March 1968. (PR)

This study aimed to assess the influence of a philosophy of science (POS) course on science teachers' views of nature of science (NOS), perceptions of teaching about NOS, and instructional planning related to NOS. Participants were 56 undergraduate and graduate preservice secondary science teachers enrolled in a two science-methods course…

Describes an activity in an elementary science methods course in which preservice teachers use a simulation exercise to select a specific elementary science curriculum program. (JR)

Seventy-two students enrolled in elementary science education methods courses participated in a study designed to reveal student views about the nature of science prior to, during, and upon completion of the course. The course employed various teaching approaches and activities to help students develop more adequate views about the nature of…

Examined are two controversial areas in science education related to elementary education majors: (1) use of science content courses, and (2) use of science methods courses. The author attempts to determine whether education majors who were taking a professional course in the teaching of science differ from non-education majors taking a comparable…

As a major part of their science methods course, preservice elementary teachers start with a tested science unit and assemble a box of related manipulatives, audio visuals, worksheets, vocabulary cards, and other materials to be used in implementing the unit. The unit is then (ideally) used in practice teaching. (SD)

This issue of Investigations in Science Education contains articles about attitude research in science education. It contains the critiques of nine articles about attitude research as well as three responses to critiques. One response relates to a critique published in an earlier issue while the other two responses are paired with the critiques…

Describes an activity used in the science methods class at the University of Wisconsin to bring preservice elementary teachers into appropriate contact with children and to give them the opportunity to try out a variety of materials and activities from the newer elementary science curricula. (JR)

Reports on one rigorous evaluation and search for desired components of a science methods course at a large state university. Student evaluations of assignments are used to rate them for effectiveness. Provides a model for other instructors interested in course evaluation. (LZ)

Reports on a study of teacher education programs for science teachers in New England. Focuses on data regarding the amount and types of science content and secondary science methods courses, program emphasis in science content, science processes and methods, science teaching techniques, and effectiveness of science preparation. (TW)

Describes Indiana University's elementary science teacher preparation program. The program consists of three elements or streams: (1) content process stream, (2) the planning stream, and (3) practicing field experience stream. A Basic Science Skills course is the first course in the sequence followed by content courses, methods, and early…