Curriculum and Pedagogy in STEM Teacher Education: Preparing Teacher Candidates for Online Teaching

• In Event: AERA Virtual Poster Session 4
  In Poster Session: Curriculum and Pedagogy to Improve Teacher Knowledge and Instruction

Abstract

In acknowledging STEM teachers’ challenges in online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study focuses on STEM teacher candidates’ (TCs’) preparation to teach online in a STEM curriculum and pedagogy course in a teacher education program at a Canadian university. The course was offered online and integrated several digital tools and resources. This paper addresses the impact of this digitally-enriched course on TCs’ technological and pedagogical skills needed for online teaching.

The study utilized a mixed methods design; data sources included pre-post questionnaires administered to TCs at the course beginning and end; and TCs' course work. The results show a notable improvement in TCs’ pedagogical approaches and technological skills, and hence their readiness to teach online in the future.

Authors

• Isha DeCoito, University of Western Ontario

• Mohammed Estaiteyeh, University of Western Ontario