Preparing Preservice Teachers to Teach Science

• In Event: 30.080 - Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: 30.080-24 - Advancing STEM Learning and Teaching for Preservice Teachers and K–16 Students

Abstract

Because elementary teachers are prepared to be generalists, the research base suggests teacher preparation programs are inadequate in providing them with opportunities to learn both the content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge necessary to teach science effectively. To facilitate students’ acquisition of deep content knowledge and proficiency in science practices promoted by the Next Generation Science Standards, elementary school teachers must be knowledgeable across science disciplines and proficient in modeling the practices employed by scientists. This study examined what preservice teachers learned in an interactively co-taught science methods course in which instructors with varied areas of expertise merged the teaching of science content with elementary school instructional techniques to address the inadequacies in current teacher preparation programs.

Author

• Amy Lewis, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway