Learning science is a social enterprise that involves students communicating ideas, observations, and findings. Navigating talk between students about scientific concepts and practices is a complex task for teachers. Traditionally, science educators have used a method called microteaching (teaching to peers) as a context for practicing teaching.…

Students with special educational needs (SEN) are often left behind in science education, and research largely ignores this population. In particular, very limited research examines the intersection between the nature of science (NOS) and special education (SPED). To address this gap, the study investigated 18 preservice SPED teachers' NOS plans…

Reform efforts in K-12 science education have been gaining pace ever since the introduction of the "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS). The new vision calls for reconsidering teacher preparation programs to prepare future teachers who are confident and competent in delivering NGSS-based instruction. This study investigated the…

The aim of my study was to explore the nature of changes in pre-service science teachers' (PSTs') self-efficacy beliefs toward science teaching through a mixed-methods approach. Thirty-six participants enrolled in a science methods course that included a collaborative peer microteaching ("Cope-M"). Participants' science teaching…

This study explores five minority preservice teachers' conceptions of teaching science and identifies the sources of their strategies for helping students learn science. Perspectives from the literature on conceptions of teaching science and on the role constructs used to describe and distinguish minority preservice teachers from their mainstream…

Reviews the many uses of video tape recordings in science education such as (1) teacher improvement, (2) training prospective science teachers, (3) educational research, (4) testing, (5) supervision of student teachers, and (6) teacher placement. (LC)

Describes one of the several pedagogical techniques used in science methods courses to prepare teachers for effective elementary science teaching. This activity involves the preservice teacher in a low-ratio teaching experience and is designed to foster a self-analysis of the techniques used. (Author/JR)

Describes instructional techniques used in a one year post-degree science teacher education program, emphasizing the role of microteaching, analysis of video-recordings of master teachers," and the detailed analysis of science curriculum developments in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. (AL)

Described is the background and methodology of this study including the sample and the instrument development. Copies of the instruments are included. The success of the program as measured by these instruments is reported. (CW)

Explains how to use microteaching in an effective way to have students in methods classes plan, teach, and evaluate a lesson presented to a small group of their peers. (PR)

Reports a study to analyze relationships between noverbal skills acquired by preservice science teachers in a methods course and their application during student teaching. Microteaching format was used in the experimental group to develop nonverbal cues and silence. Analysis indicated experimental preservice science teachers differed significantly…

Seven checklists were developed to provide precise feedback to students on their teaching performance during secondary science methods microteaching sessions. These checklists measure performance related to: (1) lesson plans; (2) communications skills; (3) generic teaching; (4) concept demonstration; (5) manipulative skills; (6)…

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect that four alternate types of instruction had on the frequency with which high inquiry questions were asked by preservice secondary science teachers. High inquiry questions involve comparing, explaining, conditional inferring, and evaluating. The four alternative instructional treatments…

This study was designed to assess the effects of three treatment levels involving micro-teaching with video-tape playback and strategy analyses on the teaching strategies selected by secondary science teaching methods students. Three groups of ten students each were randomly assigned to three treatment levels. All subjects taught a pre-treatment…

Microteaching, or peer teaching, is an activity that requires science methods students to plan, teach, and evaluate a particular lesson. The peer teaching activity, although obviously similar to teaching a lesson in a traditional classroom, enables the methods students to teach to a small group of their peers, thus easily receiving constructive…