The views concerning in-service teacher education courses in Science teachers' professional development

Cyprus International Conference on Educational Research (CY-ICER) -- FEB 08-11, 2012 -- Middle E Tech Univ No Cyprus Campus, CYPRUSWOS: 000342764800099The main aim of this research is to identify administrators' and science teachers' views regarding in-service teacher training courses. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires have been utilized for collecting the data. The interviews were conducted with 6 head teachers (administrators) and 6 science teachers. A questionnaire developed by the researchers was conducted upon 109 teachers from seven primary schools. The results showed that there were discrepancies between the results of questionnaires and the interviews. In the questionnaires, most of the teachers indicated that the in-service training courses were helpful in their professional development. In the interviews, even though most of the head teachers found in-service training courses to be helpful in teachers' professional development, most of the teachers did not share the same opinion. Both the questionnaires and the interviews revealed some reported deficiencies and expectations from in-service training courses. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.Cyprus Educ Sci Assoc, Acad World Educ & Res Ctr, Near E Univ, Eastern Mediterranean Univ, Ataturk Teacher Training Acad, Int Cyprus Univ, Girne Amer Univ, Cyprus Educ Sci Asso

A study on developing "Microteaching scale" for student teachers

4th World Conference on Educational Sciences (WCES) -- FEB 02-05, 2012 -- Univ Barcelona, Barcelona, SPAINWOS: 000314465903025Microteaching is a technique which is used to train student teachers in a minimized and restricted or artificial teaching environment. The main purpose of this study is to develop a reliable and valid instrument which measures the effect of microteaching technique in student teacher's knowledge base development from their perspectives. The scale was conducted on 170 student teachers and for the factor analysis an SPSS package program was applied. The total variance was determined as % 57.3. As a result of the validity and reliability studies a sample pool, containing 45 items, a 33-item, 4-factor and 5-point likert type of microteaching scale (KMO=.936; Barlett= 3604.251 and alpha=.88) was developed. The results show that the scale is a valid and reliable instrument for determining the role of microteaching technique of the student teachers' knowledge base development from their own perspectives. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin UzunboyluAcad World Educ & Res Ctr, Near E Univ, Bahcesehir Univ, Ankara Univ, Hacettepe Univ, Cyprus Educ Sci Asso

Elementary school students' views and images concerning Science teachers

Cyprus International Conference on Educational Research (CY-ICER) -- FEB 08-11, 2012 -- Middle E Tech Univ No Cyprus Campus, CYPRUSWOS: 000342764800074The main aim of this research is to determine elementary school students' perceptions and images towards science teachers. This study might give an idea concerning students' expectations towards their science teachers. In this field study descriptive research has been utilized. Open-ended questionnaire were applied on 27 students of 6th grade, 19 students of 7th grade, and 21 students of 8th grade. The questionnaire particularly aimed to reveal elementary school students opinions and image on "the characteristics of the good science teacher", "common characteristics of science teachers and scientists", "distinctive characteristics of science teachers from teachers of other branches" and "drawings on the images of science teachers". The results revealed that students have different perceptions and images towards science teachers. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.Cyprus Educ Sci Assoc, Acad World Educ & Res Ctr, Near E Univ, Eastern Mediterranean Univ, Ataturk Teacher Training Acad, Int Cyprus Univ, Girne Amer Univ, Cyprus Educ Sci Asso

The relationship between primary school students' scientific literacy levels and scientific process skills

Cyprus International Conference on Educational Research (CY-ICER) -- FEB 08-11, 2012 -- Middle E Tech Univ No Cyprus Campus, CYPRUSWOS: 000342764800085The main aim of this research is to explore the relationship between scientific literacy levels and scientific process skills of primary school students. It has been carried out with 24 students of 6th grade, 21 students of 7th grade and 25 students of 8th grade, aggregating to a total of 70 students participating in this research. According to the results, 7th grade students' scientific literacy levels and scientific process skills were more positive than that of the other grades. According to the grades, no significant difference was found between scientific literacy levels and scientific process skills of students. Furthermore, a highly positive and meaningful relationship between the scores of scientific process skills and scientific literacy levels has been registered. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.Cyprus Educ Sci Assoc, Acad World Educ & Res Ctr, Near E Univ, Eastern Mediterranean Univ, Ataturk Teacher Training Acad, Int Cyprus Univ, Girne Amer Univ, Cyprus Educ Sci Asso