USING EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE TO IMPROVE THE SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS CONTENT AND PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF PRESERVICE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

Colleges of Education are traditionally places where preservice teachers learn teaching philosophies and pedagogy whereas Science Departments are where they are supposed to learn science. Yet, all too often, this process fails to adequately prepare teachers. The Colleges of Science and Education at the University of New Orleans, located on the south shore of lake Pontchartrain, reexamined the process by which we prepare teachers in science. We developed a series of three courses in physical science content that specifically target the needs of preservice elementary school teachers. In addition, the science-teaching methods course was aligned with the science content courses around a similar theme: The Environment of Lake Pontchartrain.

In these courses, preservice teachers learn that content, pedagogy, an assessment are the three pillars upon which learning occurs. Moreover, the learning environment for these future teachers models the kinds of hands-on, minds-on teaching practices that we want them to use when they begin teaching. Field projects. peer-teaching exercises, and teaching field experiences to local schools provide these future teachers the opportunity to both learn and practice their craft prior to their student teaching. Importantly, mathematics is infused through all these courses, and the teachers are encouraged to use science as a method for teaching students mathematics.

The results of survey questionnaire responses, student reflections, and informal communications with students outside the classroom suggest that we are meeting our desired results. Students commonly mention that after these courses, they find science to be “fun” and they express desires to teach science in schools. We encourage our colleagues to examine the processes that we use at UNO and tailor them to your own needs. However, keep in mind that the target is a well-prepared teacher who has the competencies and enthusiasm to encourage children to LOVE SCIENCE!