Abstract
A particularly useful pedagogical strategy for beginning a dialogue with prospective teachers about the ways in which their experiences and beliefs shape their development of professional knowledge is writing impressionist tales. Impressionist tales are a form of autobiography that portrays one highly personal perspective on a significant moment in time. In this pedagogical practice article, we describe our use of impressionist tales, summarize the assumptions underpinning our use of impressionist tales in science methods courses, provide several examples of our students’ tales, and discuss the pedagogical advantages and the teacher educator’s role in using impressionist tales to promote reflective thinking among prospective elementary science teachers.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abell, S. K., & Bryan, L. A. (1997). Reconceptualizing the elementary science methods course using a reflection orientation. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 8, 153–166.
Abell, S. K., Bryan, L. A., & Anderson, M. A. (1998). Investigating preservice elementary science teacher reflective thinking using integrated media case-based instruction. Science Education, 82, 491–509.
Barnes, D. (1992). The significance of teachers’ frames for teaching. In T. Russell & H. Munby (Eds.), Teachers and teaching: From classroom to reflection (pp.~9–32). New York: Falmer Press.
Bohning, G., & Hale, L. (1998). Images of self-confidence and the change-of-career prospective elementary science teacher. Journal of Elementary Science Education, 10, 39–59.
Borko, H., Mayfield, V., Marion, S., Flexer, R., & Cumbo, K. (1997). Teachers’ developing ideas and practices about mathematics performance assessment: Successes, stumbling blocks, and implications for professional development. Teaching and Teacher Education, 13, 259–278.
Bryan, L. A. (2003). The nestedness of beliefs: Examining a prospective elementary teacher’s beliefs about science teaching and learning. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 40, 835–868.
Bryan, L. A., & Abell, S. K. (1999). The development of professional knowledge in learning to teach elementary science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 36, 121–140.
Bryan, L. A., & Atwater, M. M. (2002). Teacher beliefs and cultural models: A challenge for teacher preparation programs. Science Education, 86, 821–839.
Clandinin, D. J., & Connelly, F. M. (2000). Narrative inquiry: Experience and story in qualitative research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Clark, C. (1988). Asking the right questions about teacher preparation: Contributions of research on teacher thinking. Educational Researcher, 17(2), 5–12.
Connelly, F. M., & Clandinin, D. J. (1990). Stories of experience and narrative inquiry. Educational Researcher, 19(5), 2–14.
Connelly, F. M., & Clandinin, D. J. (1999). Shaping a professional identity: Stories of educational practice. New York: Teachers College Press.
Crawford, B. A. (1999). Is it realistic to expect a preservice teacher to create an inquiry-based classroom? Journal of Science Teacher Education, 10, 175–194.
Davis, N. (1996). Looking in the mirror: Teachers’ use of autobiography and action research to improve practice. Research in Science Education, 26, 23–32.
Dewey, J. (1933). How we think. Boston: D.C. Heath.
Eick, C. J., & Reed, C. J. (2002). What makes an inquiry-oriented science teacher? The influence of learning histories on student teacher role identity and practice. Science Education, 86, 401–416.
Greenwood, A. (1996). When it comes to teaching about floating and sinking, preservice elementary teachers do not have to feel as though they are drowning! Journal of Elementary Science Education, 8, 1–16.
Haney, J. J., Czerniak, C. M., & Lumpe, A. T. (1996). Teacher beliefs and intentions regarding the implementation of science education reform strands. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 33, 971–993.
Haney, J. J., & McArthur, J. (2002). Four case studies of prospective teachers’ beliefs concerning constructivist teaching practices. Science Education, 86, 783–802.
Hashweh, M. Z. (1996). ‘Effects of science teachers’ epistemological beliefs in teaching. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 33, 47–63.
Hicks, D. (1998). Narrative discourses as inner and outer world. Language Arts, 75(1), 28–34.
Jarrett, O. (1999). Science interest and confidence among preservice elementary teachers. Journal of Elementary Science Education, 11, 49–59.
Koch, J. (1990). The science autobiography. Science and Children, 28, 42–43.
Lederman, N. G. (1992). Students’ and teachers’ conceptions of the nature of science: A review of the research. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 29, 331–359.
Lederman, N. G., Gess-Newsome, J., & Latz, M. (1994). The nature and development of preservice science teachers’ conceptions of subject matter and pedagogy. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 31, 129–146.
Lederman, N. G., Gess-Newsome, J., & Zeidler, D. L. (1993). Summary of research in science education—1991. Science Education, 77, 465–559.
Levitt, K. (2002). An analysis of elementary teachers’ beliefs regarding the teaching and learning of science. Science Education, 86, 1–22.
Lloyd, J., Smith, R., Fay, C., Khang, G., Wah, L., & Sai, C. (1998). Subject knowledge of science teaching at primary level: A comparison of pre-service teachers in England and Singapore. International Journal of Science Education, 20, 521–532.
McGonigal, J. (2000). Transacting with autobiography to transform the learning and teaching of elementary science. Research in Science Education, 30, 75–88.
Mulholland, J., & Wallace, J. (1996). Breaking the cycle: Preparing elementary teachers to teach science. Journal of Elementary Science Education, 8, 17–38.
National Research Council. (1996). National science education standards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
National Research Council. (2000). Inquiry and the national science education standards: A guide for teaching and learning. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Nespor, J. (1987). The role of beliefs in the practice of teaching. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 19, 317–328.
Nichols, S., & Tippins, D. (2000). Prospective elementary science teachers and biomythographies: An exploratory approach to autobiographical research. Research in Science Education, 30, 141–153.
Pajares, M. F. (1992). Teachers’ beliefs and educational research: Cleaning up a messy construct. Review of Educational Research, 62, 307–332.
Palmer, D. H. (2002). Factors contributing to attitude exchange amongst preservice elementary teachers. Science Education, 86, 122–138.
Richardson, V. (1996). The role of attitudes and beliefs in learning to teach. In J. Sikula (Ed.), Handbook of research on teacher education (pp. 102–119). New York: Macmillan.
Rosenthal, D. (1991). A reflective approach to science methods courses for preservice elementary teachers. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 2, 1–5.
Ross, D. D. (1989). First steps in developing a reflective approach. Journal of Teacher Education, 40(2), 22–30.
Russell, T., & Munby, H. (1991). Reframing: The role of experience in developing teachers’ professional knowledge. In D. A. Schoen (Ed.), The reflective turn: Case studies in and on educational practice (pp. 164–187). New York: Teachers College Press.
Schoon, K., & Boone, W. (1998). Self-efficacy and alternative conceptions of science of preservice elementary teachers. Science Education, 82, 553–568.
Schön, D. A. (1983). The reflective practitioner. New York: BasicBooks.
Schön, D. A. (1987). Education the reflective practitioner: Toward a new design for teaching and learning in the professions. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Skamp, K., & Mueller, A. (2001). A longitudinal study of the influences of primary and secondary school, university and practicum on student teachers’ images of effective primary science practice. International Journal of Science Education, 23, 227–245.
Stipek, D. J., Givvin, K. B., Salmon, J. M., & MacGyvers, V. L. (2001). Teachers’ beliefs and practices related to mathematics instruction. Teaching and Teacher Education, 17, 213–226.
Stuart, C., & Thurlow, D. (2000). Making it their own: Preservice teachers’ experiences, beliefs, and classroom practices. Journal of Teacher Education, 51, 113–121.
Tilgner, P. J. (1990). Avoiding science in the elementary school. Science Education, 74, 421–431.
Tobin, K., Tippins, D. J., & Gallard, A. J. (1994). Research on instructional strategies for teaching science. In D. L. Gabel (Ed.), Handbook of research on science teaching and learning (pp. 45–93). New York: Macmillan.
Trumbull, D. J. (1990). Evolving conceptions of teaching: Reflections of one teacher. Curriculum Inquiry, 20, 161–182.
Van Maanen, J. (1988). Tales of the field: On writing ethnography. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Van Zee, E. H., & Roberts, D. (2001). Using pedagogical inquiries as a basis for learning to teach: Prospective teachers’ reflections upon positive science learning experiences. Science Education, 85, 733–757.
Weiss, I. R., Matti, M. C., & Smith, P. S. (1994). Report of the 1993 National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education. Chapel Hill, NC: Horizon Research.
Wood, D. (2000). Narrating professional development: Teachers’ stories as texts for improving practice. Anthropology & Education Quarterly, 31, 426–448.
Yerrick, R., Parke, H., & Nugent, J. (1997). Struggling to promote deeply rooted change: The “filtering effect” of teachers’ beliefs on understanding transformational views of science. Science Education, 81, 137–159.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Bryan, L.A., Tippins, D.J. The Monets, Van Goghs, and Renoirs of Science Education: Writing Impressionist Tales as a Strategy for Facilitating Prospective Teachers’ Reflections on Science Experiences. J Sci Teacher Educ 16, 227–239 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10972-005-3567-8
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10972-005-3567-8