مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Preservice Science Teachers’ Development of Knowledge about History of Science during the Nature and History of Science Course

Abstract :

This study aimed to investigate to what extent the Preservice Science Teachers’ (PST) knowledge develop as a result of their searching and preparing power point presentations about the scientists who had an important contribution to science during the Nature and Histroy of Science course. The participants of the study consisted of 40 volunteer PSTs who had registered for the Nature and Histroy of Science course offered in spring semester of 2011-2012 education years. The research method of the study was designed in line with descriptive-interpretive approach. The data was collected through Science History Knowledge Level Definition Form which was developed by the researchers. The analysis results showed that PSTs knew about the 26 science people’s fields among 65 science people before the course while this number enhanced to 61 science people after the course. Moreover, according to the study results, at the end of the course, the numbers of the preservice teachers, who could state the civilizations contributing to the science development, enhanced compare to ones at the beginning of the course. The number of the scientific events that the preservice teachers stated was 19 before the course, and 32 after the course. According to the study results, it can be said that the PSTs’ knowledge on the science history was developed after attending to the Nature and Histroy of Science course.