The purpose of this study was to improve preservice chemistry teachers' understanding of surface tension by using guided-inquiry activities. Ten preservice chemistry teachers participated in this study. Data were collected with open-ended questions on the effect of molecular weight, branching, and temperature on surface tension before and after…

Scientific observation is central to classroom inquiry and children's investigations and explanations in science. Young children can struggle with observation, and research has shown that professional scientists who engage in complex observation tasks, observe detailed patterns when they have well-developed disciplinary knowledge. However, fewer…

Data from PISA and TIMSS have recently fuelled the debate on the efficacy of Inquiry-Based Science Teaching (IBST). Some analyses of these data show that the effects of different scientific activities related to IBST carried out with students vary according to the frequency of their implementation. Extending this research, the present study…

The purpose of this research is to examine how working individually and as a team in solving pedagogical scenarios for teaching science subjects is reflected in the teaching preferences of preservice science teachers. This interpretive case study was conducted with 69 preservice science teachers studying at a university in eastern Turkey. The data…

One of today's challenges in science education involves the development of appropriate conceptions of inquiry teaching and realizing how these experiences can support students' understanding of the nature of science and inquiry (NOS and NOSI). To meet this challenge, we developed a course for in-service science teachers, in which…

The goal of this study was to explore the influencing factors of pre-service science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for targeted aspects of nature of science (NOS) and nature of scientific inquiry (NOSI) in a 13-month teacher development program, through multiple data sources. The program included a research experience, a course on…

The purpose of this study was to identify the Argumentation-based Inquiry (ABI) process from the perspective of teachers implementing the approach and determine the impacts of the process on both teachers and students. The researchers conducted the study via qualitative research methods. To this end, three science teachers teaching in three…

Research has highlighted the significant decline in teachers' implementation of newly acquired teaching practices following professional development (PD), primarily attributed to the absence of follow-up support. Even science teachers who have participated in intensive PD programs often encounter challenges in integrating new teaching practices…

Situated in the context of an in-service professional development (PD) program focused on Interdisciplinary Science Inquiry, this quantitative study tests the validity of and further explores the theoretical model adapted from Desimone's (2009), "Educational Researcher," 38, 181-199 conceptual framework on effectiveness of PD. The…

Physics inquiry can be interpreted as the construction of a cogent argument in which students apply inquiry knowledge and knowledge of physics to the systematic collection of relevant, valid, and reliable data, creating optimal scientific support for a conclusion that answers the research question. In learning how to devise, conduct and evaluate a…

Today, science education demands preparation of scientifically literate people, emphasizing more the process of working with information than owning it. Such a task requires a deep understanding of pedagogical content knowledge by science teachers. This study focuses on revealing the beliefs of prospective chemistry teachers during their teaching…

This study explored the effect of conventional laboratory practical manuals on pre-service teachers' integrated science process skills (ISPS). A validated multiple-choice questionnaire with the ISPS components was used to collect data. No significant difference between pre-service subject-specific teachers' (biology, physics and chemistry) ISPS…

Inquiry-based teaching and learning methods are more and more widely used in the teaching natural sciences all over the world. The elements of inquiry are included in many national sciences' core curricula and indicate that students should be actively involved in acquiring knowledge. This fact changes the teacher's role in the classroom and the…

The inquiry-based teaching instruction (IbTI) has been practiced internationally to improve student competency in science. The implementation of this strategy has been recommended by the science curriculum in Indonesia since 2003. However, it is not still implemented successfully in schools. The implementation is likely unsuccessful to achieve its…

The case of two middle school science teachers engaged in a long-term professional learning project is used to complicate the story of teacher change and agency and the presumed relationships between teacher knowledge and practice. Becky and Kelly were highly participatory in all aspects of a multi-year professional learning project, yet, when…