A Study on Student Teachers' Views of Science Teaching : Changes in their Images of Science Teaching during Teaching Practice

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify student teachers' views of science teaching during teaching practice in secondary school, and to discuss the relation between the changes in their views and their experiences during teaching practice. As a result of analyzing their images of science teaching and experiences / episodes, the following were observed: 1. Most of their images of science teaching at the beginning of teaching practice focused on the aim and role of science teaching, but at the end of teaching practice there was an increase in images that focused on the planning and practicing of science teaching. 2. Many of the student teachers whose images changed in category described 'the planning of science teaching' and 'the practicing of science teaching' at the end of teaching practice. Such images included the importance of the teacher's understanding of the subject matter, cooperation between the teacher and students, and the differential practice of science teaching. 3. The main categories of the student teachers' experiences and episodes in teaching practice were 'teaching methods', 'the students' conditions in science teaching', and 'the teacher's understanding of the subject matter and educational materials.' 4. For student teachers who used images in the category of 'the aim and role of science teaching,' their experiences and episodes in the teaching practice contributed to identifying their views of science teaching at the beginning of teaching practice. On the other hand, for student teachers who used images in the category of 'the relation between the teacher and students' and 'the differential practice of science teaching,' their experiences and episodes contributed to the reconsideration or change of their views of science teaching.