Preservice Teachers’ Exploration of Children’s Alternative Conceptions: Cornerstone for Planning to Teach Science
- 7 December 2006
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Science Teacher Education
- Vol. 17 (3), 291-307
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10972-006-9017-4
Abstract
Investigation involving children’s understandings of scientific concepts have been a dominant area of research in science education over the last 2 1/2 decades. One fruitful outcome of these studies is to alert teachers to difficulties in learning science. Although this information is commendable in highlighting their existence, not much is presented on how to deal with the alternative conceptions. It is generally believed that teachers tend to teach the way they were taught, and breaking this cycle requires different emphasis on pedagogy in teacher education. The focus of this article is on preservice teachers’ experiences in a science education course as they explore the importance of children’s alternative conceptions and in using such knowledge to make decisions about teaching.Keywords
This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit:
- Reexamining The Field Experiences Of Preservice TeachersJournal of Teacher Education, 2003
- Addressing children's alternative frameworks of the Moon's phases and eclipsesInternational Journal of Science Education, 2002
- Children's Ideas About Weather: A Review of the LiteratureSchool Science and Mathematics, 2002
- Lessons from Against the OddsJournal of Teacher Education, 2002
- The Influence of Primary Children's Ideas in Science on Teaching PracticeJournal of Research in Science Teaching, 2000
- The Effect of Explaining Another's Actions on Children's Implicit Theories of BalanceCognition and Instruction, 2000
- Third grade students' ideas about the lunar phasesJournal of Research in Science Teaching, 1999
- Effects of Interactive Discussion and Text Type on Learning Counterintuitive Science ConceptsThe Journal of Educational Research, 1995
- Teaching in Subject Matter Areas: ScienceAnnual Review of Psychology, 1995
- Accommodation of a scientific conception: Toward a theory of conceptual changeScience Education, 1982