| Abstract: | Conclusions Beginning student teachers have already acquired very definite views about teaching science before they begin their teacher
training course. These views are generally similar to the views espoused by science educators, but are contrary to the classroom
practices of many teachers. Their views seem to have origins in what the students perceive to have been meaningful and enjoyable
learning experiences for themselves in their own schooling; and to a lesser extent for children they have observed. Female
students who have studied more science at high school tend to favour the use of worksheets in experimental work. Several interesting
questions arise from these findings:
When these students begin to teach as qualified teachers, will they still espouse the same opinions? If so, does that mean
that there is a ‘new wave’ of teachers entering the service who are more committed to hands-on activity work than their older
colleagues?
If not, what aspects of the teacher training process have caused them to change their opinions?
Will these present students be using hands-on strategies themselves after they have been teaching for some time? That is,
do system and school constraints effectively prevent teachers from using such strategies?
Can secondary science teachers do more to influence positively their students' opinions about teaching science, such as engendering
more positive attitudes to science, incorporating more hands-on work, and relying less on printed worksheets in laboratory
work?
This exploratory work has highlighted the concern expressed by Morrissey (1981) in that there is a great need for long term
longitudinal studies of student teachers' attitudes to teaching science, with a particular focus on their teaching behaviours
after graduation. |
