Stars and Splash: Science for Pre-service Elementary Teachers
Overview
The College of Education and Human Development with support of the Physics and Earth Science departments at George Mason University in collaboration with Fairfax County Public Schools prepared and trained pre-service elementary science teachers using a proven research-based approach to pre-service teacher education. Primary goals were to increase students' science achievement and increase pre-service elementary teachers' knowledge of science concepts, ability to use research-based teaching strategies, and use strategies for addressing the needs of special education, minority, and English language learners.
Goals and Objectives
- Increase student achievement in science among elementary students with and without classified disabilities,
- Increase pre-service elementary teachers' subject matter knowledge in science concepts aligned with Science Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools (2003) and FCPS Program of Studies (2006b)
- Increase pre-service elementary teachers' knowledge and ability to use research-based teaching strategies in a manner consistent with Science Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools (2003) via training and supervised field experience during summer camp,
- Increase pre-service elementary teachers' knowledge and ability to use proven research-based strategies for addressing the needs of students with classified disabilities along with minority and English language learners, and
- Expand pre-service elementary teachers' background and proficiency with science materials and technology used by elementary students participating in lab exercises, used to demonstrate science phenomena, and used to engage student inquiry and interest during a problem-based learning experience.
Program
Program participants included 21 pre-service elementary teachers admitted to George Mason University's FCPS Partnership Program and enrolled in their science methods course (EDCI 553: Science Methods for the Elementary Classroom), 47 rising fifth, sixth, and seventh grade students from Fairfax County Public Schools, and 10 in-service elementary teachers.
The program for the pre-service teachers consisted of 48 hours of content and pedagogy instruction (16 class sessions) and 24 hours (3 full days) of supervised field experience during one of two sessions of SOL-aligned science camps for students entering grades five through seven. There was also one day of training for the in-service teachers. All training was held in a science classroom setting at Mason, which had been designed to be similar to that of an upper elementary science classroom. The first session of camp (Stars) was based on a science problem of real world consequence that involved students in learning physics and astronomy concepts and skills. The second session of camp (Splash) was based on a science problem of real world consequence that involved students in learning oceanography and other Earth science concepts and skills. Two follow-up class sessions for pre-service teachers were held in December 2008 and May 2009.
Outcomes
Based on external evaluation, the extent to which the project met its five goals is as follows. The project:
- Increased elementary students' science content knowledge,
- Significantly increased pre-service elementary teachers' science content knowledge,
- Significantly increased pre-service elementary teachers' science teaching efficacy,
- Increased pre-service elementary teachers' knowledge of and ability to use strategies for addressing the needs of students with classified disabilities as well as minority and ESOL students, and
- Expanded pre-service elementary teachers' knowledge of and proficiency with science materials and technologies used in hands-on, problem-based learning inquires.
Funded by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia