Pre-service science teachers' views about characteristics of effective science teaching and effective science teacher

Abstract

In this study an attempt was made to understand the perceptions of pre-service science teachers regarding effective science teaching strategies and teachers who are successful at implementing these strategies in their educational practice culminating towards being considered an effective science teacher. Firstly, for the purposes of this research a consideration of the following questions was necessary: What are the characteristics of effective science teaching? What are the characteristics of an effective science teacher? In order to gain insight into the research in question, related literature was reviewed and questionnaire research, including open-ended questions had been administered to pre-service teachers. Some remarkable findings have been discovered which are briefly discussed. The main feature revealed through the study is that pre-service science teachers believe the pedagogical skills of professional teachers should take precedence at first over the improvement of their theoretical knowledge on their subject matter. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.