EVALUATING PROSPECTIVE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS IN A MODEL PRESERVICE PROGRAM

Two cohorts of students preparing to become elementary teachers partic ipated in a model program in science and mathematics. These students w ere compared to other students taking similar courses on their concept ual understandings of science and mathematics, their investigative pro ficiencies, and their beliefs about effective methods of teaching thes e subjects. Instruments included newly developed tests of understandin g, existing standardized achievement tests, and instruments devised fo r the evaluation to elicit conceptions of appropriate ways to teach sc ience and mathematics to elementary children. Results from individual courses indicated that students participating in the model program dev eloped more thorough understandings and more reform-minded beliefs rel ated to teaching science and mathematics. Issues associated with the a ssessment and evaluation of innovative programs in science and mathema tics are discussed, and recommendations for teacher preparation are of fered.