Preservice Science Teachers' Beliefs about Application of Science Process Skills: A Case Study


YILMAZ TÜZÜN Ö., ÖZGELEN S.

EGITIM VE BILIM-EDUCATION AND SCIENCE, vol.37, no.164, pp.126-136, 2012 (SSCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 37 Issue: 164
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Journal Name: EGITIM VE BILIM-EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.126-136
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate preservice science teachers' (PSTs) beliefs about scientific process skills (SPS) and application of SPS during microteaching session. A case study approach was used. Participants were elementary PSTs enrolled in the practice teaching in elementary education course. Findings revealed that PSTs were not proficient in teaching SPS to students, however, their beliefs about SPS were found as satisfactory. After examining 200 lesson plans, it was observed that 77 of the lesson plans were prepared based on teacher-centered teaching methods and included basic SPS in their lesson plans and tried to develop these skills in students. A model was developed to explain factors that may influence PSTs' beliefs of SPS and their application.