Preparing Physics Teachers for the Classroom: The Role of Initial Teacher Education Providers

• In Event: 49.088 - Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: 49.088-10 - Physics Education: What Does It Look Like in Classroom Practice?

Abstract

This paper is aimed at exploring New Zealand (NZ) physics teachers’ assessments about their Initial Teacher Education (ITE), specifically, how well it prepared them for classroom practices and to become effective physics teachers. The data from a nationwide survey of physics teachers was analysed using frequency tables and inferential statistics including t-test and MANOVA. The teachers considered themselves not well-prepared in some content areas including electronics, modern physics, and atomic and nuclear physics. Significant differences also existed between teachers who were trained in NZ and those from overseas. Findings from the study suggest that the non-education degree which provided the teachers most of their content knowledge was perhaps inadequate.

Authors

• Isaac Buabeng, University of Cape Coast

• Lindsey N. Conner, University of Canterbury

• David Winter, University of Canterbury