Teaching practice in teacher education and science education research: current questions

Abstract

This paper deals with the challenges faced by the subject-matter called Teaching Practice in the various areas of natural science such as Biology, Physics and Chemistry, in relation to Science Education research area. Through the analysis of the relevant bibliography, the specificities of Teaching Practice are discussed in view of the questions emerging from the various educational fields and especially from Science Education. Teaching Practice was also looked at in the context of the current legislation and debate around the Curriculum Guidelines for Teacher Education. The paper presents an overall view of research on Science Teaching, in an attempt to analyse the current trends with direct implications on teacher training. Based on the above efforts, the paper presents important elements for Teaching Practice subjectmatters in the different natural science areas. Among them: a) the deviations of research on misconceptions and conceptual change and the new perspectives of research on science learning; b) the discussion on the role of experiments in science teaching; c) the relevance of scientific public communication and of non formal means for science education; and d) the articulation of research on education and science education research.