A study of teacher thinking about working in classrooms using a multicultural perspective on science learning

Teaching science using a multicultural approach is not typical practice in public school systems. The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of the thoughts and actions of teachers who do, in fact, embrace a multicultural perspective on science teaching and learning. Specifically, the project focused on teachers' beliefs about teaching science with a multicultural perspective and how they have facilitated such an approach. This research considered what obstacles were encountered when implementing a multicultural approach.;The participants suggested facilitation approaches for the science classroom. These included: (1) Having deep knowledge of students and their cultural backgrounds; (2) Acknowledging and including the contributions of other cultures to science teaching; (3) Using personalized strategies for science learning (e.g., cooperative learning, hands-on activities, graphic organizers); 4) Providing all science teachers with ongoing training in the areas of multicultural education and multicultural science education in particular; 5) Inviting guest speakers from a variety of ethnic/cultural backgrounds who work in the field of science/technology to share their experiences with students; 6) Hiring more ethnic-minority science and math teachers; and 7) Providing teachers with time and funding to create culturally relevant science materials.;Data were gathered through interviews and classroom observations of four teachers regarding their beliefs and views about teaching science using a multicultural approach. Banks's (2002) dimensions of multicultural education and his typology of approaches to multicultural curriculum reform were used to organize and evaluate the case study descriptions of the approaches taken by the participants with respect to integrating multicultural content within the science curriculum. The case study reports portray teacher thinking and practice about multicultural approaches to science teaching and learning using six organizing themes: (1) Participants' reasons for taking a multicultural approach in science teaching, (2) Participants' beliefs that guide how to teach science using a multicultural approach, (3) Participants' views about the challenges of teaching science in a multicultural setting, (4) Participants' ideas about factors that facilitate a multicultural approach, (5) Participants' and the researcher's approaches to content integration, (6) Participants' thoughts on preparing educators to teach using a multicultural approach to science education.