Science teachers' beliefs about teaching and learning are a vital component of teachers' professional competence and are often assumed to impact classroom practice. To date, these beliefs have been predominantly investigated regarding teaching and learning in general or for a particular science subject (e.g., physics). It remains to be determined…

Investigates the relationship of subject matter knowledge in science and the patterns of entering, leaving, and remaining in the teaching profession among college graduates trained as science teachers. Science subject matter knowledge was found to have significant (P=0.01) effect on the likelihood of being a nonrecruited versus a career teacher…

Explores the relationship between subject matter and secondary science teacher identity, or sense of self. Develops a multidimensional model of identity and discusses the role of subject matter in the teachers' descriptions of who they are. Contains 30 references. (DDR)

Discusses the concept of pedagogical content knowledge within the context of science teaching. Defines the concept and identifies teaching experience as the major source of pedagogical content knowledge. Contains 69 references. (DDR)

Describes the knowledge base of a group of science teachers as related to the structure, function, and development of their disciplines and their understanding of the nature of science. Twenty teachers participated in this study and their knowledge base was found lacking in all respects. The assumption was that teacher preparation programs are not…

Seeks to understand how one preservice elementary teacher's experiences within the context of reflective science-teacher education influenced the development of professional knowledge. Contains 36 references. (DDR)

Explores the science content knowledge of elementary school teachers and its possible role in helping them teach effectively. Studies the issues in the context of an investigation of the views of elementary school teachers (n=106) who had participated in professional development courses that focused on the topic "natural and processed…

Explores how children's ideas in science affect elementary science instruction by investigating whether and how three primary teachers recognize and react to student ideas. Finds that the experienced teacher with the highest level of content knowledge had the largest repertoire for eliciting and addressing student ideas, and the intern teacher's…

Raises the question of what elementary and secondary teachers need to know to teach mathematics and science. Outlines the kind of subject matter knowledge teachers need to learn during their higher education years in mathematics and science. Contains 44 references. (DDR)

Project LIFE, a state systemic initiatives professional development program for middle-grade life science teachers, has been successful in improving the science content knowledge, process skills, and attitudes toward teaching science of the teachers participating in the project. The essential characteristics of this project are described as a…

Discusses the influence of a reflective, explicit, activity-based approach to nature of science (NOS) instruction used in an elementary science methods course on preservice teachers' views of some aspects of the nature of science. Finds that participants made substantial gains in their views of some of the target NOS aspects. Advocates a…