Science Education in Early Childhood Teacher Education: Putting Forward a Case to Enhance Student Teachers' Confidence and Competence

New Zealand is moving towards increased qualification requirements for early childhood educators. There is an underlying assumption that there is a correlation between quality early childhood education, teacher qualifications and quality practices in teaching and learning. Two fields of literature, early childhood pedagogy and science specific pedagogy, are reviewed briefly to provide a framework with which to consider why student teachers' attitudes, misunderstandings and misconceptions in science can limit their ability and willingness to create quality teaching and learning opportunities. The study reported in this paper highlights, in general, that early childhood student teachers' subject knowledge in science was poor. It also emerged that the student teachers were unaware of how little they knew and how this might affect their ability to provide appropriate science experiences for young children.     

Practices and Innovations in Australian Science Teacher Education Programs

This paper reports part of a larger study which was designed to investigate current practices in initial teacher education programs in Australia. The main data collection was by telephone interviews, which were carried out with science education specialists and program coordinators at all institutions which offer primary teacher education or secondary science teacher education. The interviews focused on practices in relation to program structures, science content studies, science methods studies and links to science-related school projects or to science business/industry. A large number of innovative practices were described. In addition, several case studies were carried out, which focused on particular innovations. The study identified several aspects of science teacher education which were of concern.     

Pedagogical Considerations in the Application of New Technologies to Teacher Education

This paper considers the traditional pedagogies underpinning the use of technology in order to deliver learning in educational settings and the lessons that can be drawn for the case of teacher education. It then considers the pedagogy of teacher education itself in order to propose an integrated pedagogical model for the delivery of teacher education by means of the new technologies. It concludes with the view that technology can and should be applied to teacher education but that this might best be viewed as an evolutionary process rather than a revolutionary one.     

Science Teacher Education in the Twenty-First Century: a Pedagogical Framework for Technology-Integrated Social Constructivism

Changes in our global world have shifted the skill demands from acquisition of structured knowledge to mastery of skills, often referred to as twenty-first century competencies. Given these changes, a sequential explanatory mixed methods study was undertaken to (a) examine predominant instructional methods and technologies used by teacher educators, (b) identify attributes for learning and teaching in the twenty-first century, and (c) develop a pedagogical framework for promoting meaningful usage of advanced technologies. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected via an online survey, personal interviews, and written reflections with science teacher educators and student teachers. Findings indicated that teacher educators do not provide sufficient models for the promotion of reform-based practice via web 2.0 environments, such as Wikis, blogs, social networks, or other cloud technologies. Findings also indicated four attributes for teaching and learning in the twenty-first century: (a) adapting to frequent changes and uncertain situations, (b) collaborating and communicating in decentralized environments, (c) generating data and managing information, and (d) releasing control by encouraging exploration. Guided by social constructivist paradigms and twenty-first century teaching attributes, this study suggests a pedagogical framework for fostering meaningful usage of advanced technologies in science teacher education courses.     

教师教育改革中的师范文化传承与发展

我国师范教育在百年的发展历程中形成了独特的师范文化。师范文化的直观表现是师范学校的日常教育生活形态,而其实质则是师范教育在长期的发展过程中由国家确立并通过行政权力而形塑的师范教育的价值、理念和制度设计等。随着教师教育体系的改革,师范文化在不同的程度上被消解或弱化。教师教育在进行体系重构的时候,要立足于为中小学培养优秀的师资,在传承师范文化的基础上,建构并发展与教师教育体系相适应的教师教育文化。     

Evaluation Practices in Teacher Education in Israel

Evaluation procedures and the emphasis on evaluation in teacher education courses in Israel were studied through questionnaires administered to teacher educators, student teachers and practicing teachers. The results show that the emphasis on evaluation is marginal and that evaluation procedures in teacher education have significant effects on practicing teachers.     

Documentation Panels Enhance Teacher Education Programs

Documentation of children’s projects is advantageous to their learning process and is also a good method for student teachers to observe the process of learning. Documentation panels are a unique way to help student teachers understand how children learn. Completing a panel requires a student teacher to think through a process. Teachers must learn how to ask appropriate questions that reveal the progress of the project and then reflect the information onto a panel that preserves the growth of the child’s thinking. Panels are an effective way to help student teachers convey their knowledge about young children and appropriate methods of teaching.     

Dancing with Maggots and Saints: Visions for Subject Matter Knowledge,Pedagogical Knowledge,and Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Science Teacher Education Reform

Journal of Science Teacher Education -     

Competence,Confidence and Inservice Education for Mathematics Teachers

Abstract

Confidence in subject matter knowledge, in teaching ability and actual subject matter competence of 157 Grade 7–9 teachers, who participated in three summer inservice courses for mathematics teachers was measured. Results were consistent across courses: (1) inservice participation strengthened both mathematical competence and feelings of self‐confidence; (2) teachers lacking confidence in knowledge were those who lacked confidence in teaching ability; and (3) self‐confidence and actual subject competence were only partially interrelated.     

Intercultural Competence: Physical Education Teacher Education Recommendations

ABSTRACT 

The increasing diversity of the K-12 student population presents challenges and opportunities for growth in the physical education profession. To address the cultural gap in today’s classroom, many people highlight the need to improve the intercultural competence of teachers. The focus of this article is to summarize the shifting demographics of American society, its impact on K-12 education, and how one California physical education teacher education (PETE) program is preparing pre-service teachers for the multicultural classroom. The article also outlines recommendations for PETE programs to address intercultural competence.     

Developing Motivation to Teach Elementary Science: Effect of Collaborative and Authentic Learning Practices in Preservice Education

Journal of Science Teacher Education -     

论核心素养时代教师教育

核心素养是学生终身发展、一生成功的根本,教师素养是这一"根本"的"根本"。教师是学生发展核心素养落地的关节点,教师的核心素养观、核心素养教学与课改思维是造就学生发展核心素养的关键教师素养。在核心素养时代,教师的育人思维、教育视野、工作方式、课堂角色悄然进入激变期,面向核心素养培育的教师教育目标调适势在必行。面向学生发展核心素养培育的时代使命,我国教师教育必须致力于造就四类教师,即"真人之师""生涯之师""超能之师""实践之师"。     

Developing Science Pedagogical Content Knowledge Through Mentoring Elementary Teachers

Elementary teachers are typically hesitant to teach science. While a limited knowledge of science content is a reason for this, limited science pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) has emerged as another reason in recent research. This study constitutes two case studies of a professional development program for elementary teachers involving mentoring by a university professor. The mentor took the role of a critical friend in joint planning and teaching of science. The study examines the nature of the mentoring relationship and reports the type of teacher learning that occurred, with a particular focus on the teachers’ development of science PCK.

论我国教师教育事业的发展趋势

论述开放性的教师教育在我国教育发展中的历史必然性.指出教师教育要刚性与柔性结合,学科教育与从师教育分立,理论学习与能力训练并举.并提出教师教育要处理好几个关系,从制度设计层面提供了几种趋利避害的方法.