| This study began with a concern that many elementary teachers hold negative attitudes toward science, lack the confidence to teach science, and/or do not feel qualified to teach science. This quasi-experimental study examined preservice teachers' beliefs regarding teaching science pre and post semester in an Introductory Geology course. Data for the study was collected for three semesters from preservice teachers enrolled in an Introductory Geology lab designed for elementary education majors. After obtaining informed consent, the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument Form B (STEBI-B), and a course survey, were administered during the first and last lab class sessions.; Paired t-tests were performed to examine changes in Personal Science Teaching Efficacy (PSTE), Science Teaching Outcome Expectancy (STOE), feelings of success in the course, and comfort level with science topics. Surveys were paired using a code provided by the preservice teachers at the top of the survey. In addition, written responses regarding the experience of the elementary education majors' lab section were also examined.; Results of this study indicate a significant difference in Personal Science Teaching Efficacy (PSTE), feelings of success for lab, feelings of success in lecture, and comfort level with science topics. No significant differences were found in Science Teaching Outcome Expectancy (STOE) or feelings of success in the course overall. Written comments suggest preservice teachers found their experience in the education majors' lab to be better than other students in the course. The reasons the preservice teachers believed their experience to be better was: they were with like majors, obtained lesson plans and ideas, the material presented was relevant to their future careers as teachers, the Teaching Assistant characteristics, and a smaller class size.; This study indicates that it is possible for changes in preservice teachers' science teaching self-efficacy and comfort level with science topics to change over the course of a semester in a science content lab course designed for education majors. This study will be useful to teacher educators in preparing science content courses in their teacher preparation program. |
