Preservice Science Teachers’ Beliefs about Application of Science Process Skills: A Case Study

Özgül Yılmaz Tüzün, Sinan Özgelen

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate preservice science teachers’ (PSTs) beliefs about scientific process skills (SPS) and application of SPS during microteaching session. A case study approach was used. Participants were elementary PSTs enrolled in the practice teaching in elementary education course. Findings revealed that PSTs were not proficient in teaching SPS to students, however, their beliefs about SPS were found as satisfactory. After examining 200 lesson plans, it was observed that 77 of the lesson plans were prepared based on teacher-centered teaching methods and included basic SPS in their lesson plans and tried to develop these skills in students. A model was developed to explain factors that may influence PSTs’ beliefs of SPS and their application. 

Keywords

Science process skills, preservice science teachers, elementary education

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