Abstract
This study followed a preservice teacher in his attempts to design and deliver conceptual change chemistry instruction in the context of an action research project. It was found that the preservice teacher identified student misconceptions through journal writings and class discussions. He addressed student ideas with classroom activities designed to confront current understandings to influence change. The university researcher identified influences that impacted teaching for conceptual change, and implications are made for helping new teachers teach for conceptual change.
Similar content being viewed by others
Bibliography
Abell, S. K., & Roth, M. (1992). Constraints to teaching elementary science: A case study of a science enthusiast student teacher.Science Education, 76, 581–595.
Akerson, V. L., Flick, L. B., & Lederman, N. G. (2000). The influence of primary children’s ideas in science on teaching practice.Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 37, 363–385.
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). (1993).Benchmarks for science literacy. New York: Oxford University Press.
Anderson, C. W., & Smith, E. L. (1986).Children’s conceptions of light and color: Understanding the role of unseen rays (Report No. 400-81-0014). East Lansing, MI: Institute for Research on Teaching. (ERIC Reproduction Document No. ED 270318)
Bar, V. (1989). Children’s views about the water cycle.Science Education 73, 481–500.
Bishop, B. A., & Anderson, C. W. (1990). Student conceptions of natural selection and its role in evolution.Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 27, 415–427.
Bloom, J. W. (1998).Creating a classroom community of young scientists: A desktop companion. Toronto, Ontario: Irwin Publishing.
Borko, H. (1993). The integration of content and pedagogy in teaching. In A. L. Gardner & K. F. Cochran (Eds.),Critical issues in reforming elementary teacher preparation in mathematics and science conference proceedings (pp 25–45). Greeley: University of Northern Colorado.
Bybee, R. W. (1993). The reform of elementary school science: The critical issues. In A. L. Gardner & K. F. Cochran, (Eds.),Critical issues in reforming clementary teacher preparation in mathematics and science conference proceedings (pp. 13–23) Greeley: University of Northern Colorado.
Carey, S. (1985).Conceptual change in childhood. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Cochran-Smith, M., & Lytle, S. L. (1993).Inside outside: Teacher research and knowledge. New York: Teachers College Press.
Driver, R., Guesne, E., & Tiberghien, A. (1985).Children’s ideas in science. London: Open University Press.
Erlwanger, S. H. (1975). Case studies of children’s conceptions of mathematics — Part 1.Journal of Children’s Mathematical Behavior, 1(3), 157–283.
Gardner, H. (1991).The unschooled mind: How children think and how schools should teach. New York: Basic Books.
Griminelli Tomasini, N. G., Gandolfi, E., & Pecordi Balandi, B. (1990, April).Teaching strategies and conceptual change: Sinking and floating at the elementary school level. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Boston.
Harlen, W. (2001).Primary science: Taking the plunge (2nd ed.). Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Hashweh, M. (1988). Descriptive studies of students’ conceptions in science.Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 25, 212–234.
Herscovics, N. (1989). Cognitive obstacles encountered in the learning of algebra. In S. Wagner & C. Kieran (Eds.),Research issues in the learning and teaching of algebra (pp. 60–86). Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics/Lawrence Erlbaum.
Hesse, J. J., & Anderson, C. W. (1992). Students’ conceptions of chemical change.Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 29, 277–299.
Hewson, P. W., Bell, B., Griminelli Tomasini, N., Pecordi Balandi, B., Hennessey, G., & Zeitsman, A. (1995, April).Teaching with students’ ideas in mind. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, San Francisco.
Hirsch, E. D. (1996).The schools we need and why we don’t have them. New York: Doubleday.
Hollingsworth, S. (1989). Prior beliefs and cognitive change in learning to teach.American Educational Research Journal, 26, 160–189.
Hubbard, R. S., & Power, B. M. (1993).The art of classroom inquiry: A handbook for teacher-researchers. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Hunsaker, L., & Johnson, M. (1992). Teacher under construction: A collaborative case study of teacher change.American Educational Research Journal, 29, 350–372.
Munarriz, B., Medrano, C., Martinez, B., Basurco, F., Defauce, M., Bermejo, F., & Barrio, E. (1995).Cooperative research: An experience developed between theorists and practitioners. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Conference on Teacher Research, Basque.
National Research Council (NRC). (1996).National science education standards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Novak, J. D. (1988). Learning science and the science of learning.Studies in Science Education, 15, 77–101.
Nussbaum, J., & Novak, J. D. (1976). An assessment of children’s concepts of the earth utilizing structured interviews.Science Education, 60, 535–550.
Osborne, R., & Freyburg, P. (1985).Learning in science: The implications of children’s science. Birkenhead, Auckland, New Zealand: Heinemann.
Parsons, S., & Reynolds, K. E. (1995).Establishing an action research agenda for preservice and inservice elementary teacher collaboration on the self-empowerment in science. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, San Francisco.
Piaget, J. (1929).The child’s conception of the world. New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Company.
Pintrich, P. R., Marx, R. W., & Boyle, R. A. (1993). Beyond cold conceptual change: The role of motivational beliefs and classroom contextual factors in the process of conceptual change.Review of Educational Research, 63, 167–199.
Posner, G. J., & Gertzog, W. A. (1982). The clinical interview and the measurement of conceptual change.Science Education, 66, 195–209.
Posner, G. J., Strike, K. A., Hewson, P. W., & Gertzog, W. A. (1982). Accommodation of a scientific conception: Toward a theory of conceptual change.Science Education, 66, 211–227.
Rogoff, B. (1990).Apprenticeship in thinking: Cognitive development in social context. New York: Oxford University Press.
Roth, K. (1991). Learning to be comfortable in the “neighborhood of science”: An analysis of three approaches to elementary science teaching. In W. Saul & S. Jagusch (Eds.),Vital connections: Children, science, and books: Papers from a symposium sponsored by the Children’s Literature Center (pp. 143–161). Washington, DC: Library of Congress.
Schoeneberger, M., & Russell, T. (1986). Elementary science as a little added frill: A report of two case studies.Science Education, 70, 519–538.
Smith, D. C., & Neale, D. C. (1989). The construction of subject matter knowledge in primary science teaching.Teaching and Teacher Education, 5(1), 1–20.
Shulman, L. S. (1986). Those who understand: Knowledge growth in teaching.Educational Researcher, 15(2), 4–14.
Strike, K. A., & Posner, G. J. (1992). A revisionist theory of conceptual change. In R. A. Duschl, & R. J. Hamilton (Eds.),Philosophy of science, cognitive psychology, and educational theory and practice (pp. 147–176). New York: State University of New York Press.
Taylor, S. J., & Bogdan, R. (1984).Introduction to qualitative research methods: The search for meanings. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Thier, H. D. (1965). A look at a first-grader’s understanding of matter.Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 3, 84–89.
Tilgner, P. J. (1990). Avoiding science in the elementary school.Science Education, 74, 421–431.
Tobias, S. (1992).Revitalizing undergraduate science. Tucson, AZ: Research Corporation.
Tobin, K., Briscoe, C., & Holman, J. R. (1990). Overcoming constraints to effective elementary science teaching.Science Education, 74, 409–420.
Vygotsky, L. (1991).Thought and language. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Wandersee, J. H., Mintzes, J. J., & Novak, J. D. (1994). Research on alternative conceptions in science. In D. L. Gabel (Ed.),Handbook of research in science teaching and learning (pp. 177–210). New York: Macmillan.
Winograd, K., & Evans, T. (1995). Preservice elementary teachers’ perceptions of an action research assignment.Action in Teacher Education, 17(3), 13–22.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Akerson, V.L., Reinkens, K.A. Preparing preservice elementary teachers to teach for conceptual change: A case study. J Elem Sci Edu 14, 29–45 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03174735
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03174735