How Astronomers Can Help Prepare Future Teachers

Details How Astronomers Can Help Prepare Future Teachers How Astronomers Can Help Prepare Future Teachers

Dec 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006aas...209.9607s&link_type=abstract

2007 AAS/AAPT Joint Meeting, American Astronomical Society Meeting 209, #96.07; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, V

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Classroom teachers are expected to teach a variety of astronomical topics, yet research indicates that most undergraduates do not have a scientific understanding of these topics, and there is widespread misunderstanding as to the nature of science. How can astronomers help to prepare the next generation of teachers in space science?
Our group has met with teacher educators from both science and education departments, and conducted a survey to better understand the role and needs for astronomy in teacher pre-service. We will share the current research and the results of our own survey of teacher educators, and some of the models and suggestions that the members of the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s Pre-Service Education Working Group (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/score/pre_service.shtml) have discovered.
Research has shown that effective teaching practices need to be modeled--future teachers need to be taught a subject the way they will be teaching it in their classrooms. Our survey of teacher educators (from science and education departments at a variety of colleges across the US) suggests educators are concerned that today's future teachers are not taught science in college as inquiry-based, with activities that model the nature of investigation. The survey also indicated that future elementary teachers often have a fear or dislike of science, and do not understand the nature of science, and that students do not have enough breadth in science subjects.
Our group's meetings and discussions have discerned a variety of opportunities for astronomers to effect change in the future classroom teacher. These include changing the way that classes are taught, increasing opportunities for future teachers (in addition to future scientists) to have true scientific research experiences, creating scientist-education partnerships to improve science pre-service education, and establishing programs with scientists as mentors to future teachers.

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