Addressing the Gap of Informal Science Field Experiences in Science Methods Courses

Abstract

Preservice teachers in science education courses do not generally experience informal, authentic science education practices in their fieldwork. This study used the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning to frame a study that integrated informal science teaching experiences with a university teacher education science methods course. The results showed improvement in participant preservice teachers' ability to teach science content, their self-confidence in teaching science, and their ability to connect what they learned in their methods course in a real-life setting.

Keywords

• preservice science teachers fieldwork
• sotl
• informal science education
• teacher reflection
• theory into practice