PREPARING TEACHERS AS RESEARCHERS IN COURSES ON METHODS OF TEACHING SCIENCE

The four standards for professional development of teachers of science from the National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996) provided a frame for reflection upon ways in which prospective teachers engaged i n research in my courses on methods of teaching science. Students lear ned both science content and science pedagogy by inquiry. An extended research project helped students to integrate knowledge of science, le arning, pedagogy, and students, and to apply that to teaching science. Students built knowledge, skills, and attitudes for lifelong learning by participating in a research festival and presenting at conferences . I designed this science-teaching methods course in the context of a teacher education program that is attempting to implement reform appro aches to instruction. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.