TY - JOUR
T1 - Pre-service science teachers learn a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-oriented program
T2 - The case of sound, waves and communication systems
AU - Awad, Nayif
AU - Barak, Moshe
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Authors.
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - The current article about pre-service teachers (n=60) describes the implementation and evaluation of an innovative curriculum for teaching sound, waves and communication systems (SWCS). The study sought to investigate pre-service teachers' successes and difficulties in learning a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-based program, to examine the program's influence on students' interest and self-efficacy beliefs about learning science and technology, and to explore the factors that affected their achievements and motivation. The participants were two groups of pre-service teachers who learned the course within their studies towards a B. Ed. degree in science teaching. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by a final exam, a retention exam, a Motivation Questionnaire, final projects, class observations and interviews with the students. The findings revealed that the pre-service teachers successfully learned the new subject and were motivated in learning the course. The integration of science and technology studies, engaging the students in hands-on lab work and the use of ICT tools played a crucial role in promoting meaningful learning. However, the PBL part of the course contributed relatively little because the learners encountered difficulties in learning new subjects independently.
AB - The current article about pre-service teachers (n=60) describes the implementation and evaluation of an innovative curriculum for teaching sound, waves and communication systems (SWCS). The study sought to investigate pre-service teachers' successes and difficulties in learning a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-based program, to examine the program's influence on students' interest and self-efficacy beliefs about learning science and technology, and to explore the factors that affected their achievements and motivation. The participants were two groups of pre-service teachers who learned the course within their studies towards a B. Ed. degree in science teaching. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by a final exam, a retention exam, a Motivation Questionnaire, final projects, class observations and interviews with the students. The findings revealed that the pre-service teachers successfully learned the new subject and were motivated in learning the course. The integration of science and technology studies, engaging the students in hands-on lab work and the use of ICT tools played a crucial role in promoting meaningful learning. However, the PBL part of the course contributed relatively little because the learners encountered difficulties in learning new subjects independently.
KW - ICT
KW - Pre-service teachers
KW - Project-based learning (PBL)
KW - STEM
KW - Sound waves
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041167843&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.29333/ejmste/83680
DO - 10.29333/ejmste/83680
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85041167843
SN - 1305-8215
VL - 14
SP - 1431
EP - 1451
JO - Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
JF - Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
IS - 4
ER -