Elementary Teacher Candidates' Design and Use of Heuristics for Becoming Teachers of Science

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 4
  In Roundtable Session: Teaching Science, Noticing Mathematics: Innovations in Prospective Teacher STEM Learning

Abstract

Research on preservice elementary science teacher education should support teachers’ critical consciousness when innovating curriculum and instructional practices. However, transforming beliefs, habits, and attitudes as teachers of science is challenging without supporting tools. This study investigates how heuristics support mediating theory generation in a science pedagogy course and actual science teaching of physics and engineering activities in an afterschool science program. Research design includes conducting phenomenological interviews with pre-service teachers who designed and used heuristics for teaching science lessons with elementary students. Findings include teachers’ nuanced understandings of heuristics as personal development tools, how to intentional design heuristics to target personal transformations, and recognition of how heuristics influenced personal development and raised confidence when teaching science.

Author

• Adam Devitt, California State University - Stanislaus