Newly Qualified Teachers' Visions of Science Learning and Teaching

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorvan Zee, Emily Hen_US
dc.contributor.authorRoberts, Deborah L.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentCurriculum and Instructionen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2011-07-07T05:32:50Z
dc.date.available2011-07-07T05:32:50Z
dc.date.issued2011en_US
dc.description.abstractThis study investigated newly qualified teachers' visions of science learning and teaching. The study also documented their preparation in an elementary science methods course. The research questions were: What educational and professional experiences influenced the instructor's visions of science learning and teaching? What visions of science learning and teaching were promoted in the participants' science methods course? What visions of science learning and teaching did these newly qualified teachers bring with them as they graduated from their teacher preparation program? How did these visions compare with those advocated by reform documents? Data sources included participants' assignments, weekly reflections, and multi-media portfolio finals. Semi-structured interviews provided the emic voice of participants, after graduation but before they had begun to teach. These data were interpreted via a combination of qualitative methodologies. Vignettes described class activities. Assertions supported by excerpts from participants' writings emerged from repeated review of their assignments. A case study of a typical participant characterized weekly reflections and final multi-media portfolio. Four strands of science proficiency articulated in a national reform document provided a framework for interpreting activities, assignments, and interview responses. Prior experiences that influenced design of the methods course included an inquiry-based undergraduate physics course, participation in a reform-based teacher preparation program, undergraduate and graduate inquiry-based science teaching methods courses, participation in a teacher research group, continued connection to the university as a beginning teacher, teaching in diverse Title 1 schools, service as the county and state elementary science specialist, participation in the Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, service on a National Research Council committee, and experience teaching a science methods course. The methods course studied here emphasized reform-based practices, science as inquiry, culturally responsive teaching, scientific discourse, and integration of science with technology and other disciplines. Participants' writings and interview responses articulated visions of science learning and teaching that included aspects of reform-based practices. Some participants intentionally incorporated and implemented reform-based strategies in field placements during the methods course and student teaching. The strands of scientific proficiency were evident in activities, assignments and participants' interviews in varying degrees.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/11631
dc.subject.pqcontrolledEducation, Generalen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledTeacher Educationen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledScience Educationen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledmethods courseen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledscienceen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledscience education reformen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledscience methods courseen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledstrands of science proficiencyen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledteacher educationen_US
dc.titleNewly Qualified Teachers' Visions of Science Learning and Teachingen_US
dc.typeDissertationen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Roberts_umd_0117E_12000.pdf
Size:
2.76 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

UMD Theses and Dissertations
Teaching, Learning, Policy & Leadership Theses and Dissertations