Pre-service Science Teachers Learn a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-Oriented Program: The Case of Sound, Waves and Communication Systems
Nayif Awad 1 * , Moshe Barak 1
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1 Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, ISRAEL* Corresponding Author

This article was published with the financial support of the EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education for doctoral students.

Abstract

The current article about pre-service teachers (n=60) describes the implementation and evaluation of an innovative curriculum for teaching sound, waves and communication systems (SWCS). The study sought to investigate pre-service teachers’ successes and difficulties in learning a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-based program, to examine the program’s influence on students’ interest and self-efficacy beliefs about learning science and technology, and to explore the factors that affected their achievements and motivation. The participants were two groups of pre-service teachers who learned the course within their studies towards a B.Ed. degree in science teaching. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by a final exam, a retention exam, a Motivation Questionnaire, final projects, class observations and interviews with the students. The findings revealed that the pre-service teachers successfully learned the new subject and were motivated in learning the course. The integration of science and technology studies, engaging the students in hands-on lab work and the use of ICT tools played a crucial role in promoting meaningful learning. However, the PBL part of the course contributed relatively little because the learners encountered difficulties in learning new subjects independently.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, 2018, Volume 14, Issue 4, 1431-1451

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/83680

Publication date: 21 Jan 2018

Article Views: 4732

Article Downloads: 1810

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