Pre-service teachers' conceptions about the quality of explanations for the science classroom in the context of peer assessment
This study explored student-teacher conceptions of explanations for the science classroom during teacher education programs through peer-assessments of 20 pre-service teachers from three universities. The peer-assessments were reciprocal and focused on the explanation of scientific concepts during m...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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LUMA Centre Finland
2020-12-01
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Series: | LUMAT |
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Online Access: | https://journals.helsinki.fi/lumat/article/view/1416 |
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author | Valeria Cabello Keith J. Topping |
author_facet | Valeria Cabello Keith J. Topping |
author_sort | Valeria Cabello |
collection | DOAJ |
description | This study explored student-teacher conceptions of explanations for the science classroom during teacher education programs through peer-assessments of 20 pre-service teachers from three universities. The peer-assessments were reciprocal and focused on the explanation of scientific concepts during microteaching episodes. Student-teacher conceptions about the quality of scientific explanations were obtained by analysing their assessment-feedback comments to peers and by focus groups. The results showed that student-teacher conceptions about the quality of explanations for the science classroom were related to constructivist theory applied to science teaching, for instance, the participants noticed that better explanations were those that connected the concepts with the students' ideas and experiences. A follow-up with a sub-sample of six participants during a practicum in schools explored through interviews the perceived enablers and obstacles that affected their explanation construction in real settings leading to reframing their conceptions. This study revealed that peer assessment and feedback could play a significant role in teacher education by eliciting student-teacher conceptions about essential teaching practices and the challenges of explaining in real teaching, which might enhance and empower their skill development. We discuss implications for research and practice, with emphasis on peer assessment as a tool for internalising assessment criteria for fruitful science teaching. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:50:37Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-483ec28d6dff4d139e423fcd726659df |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2323-7112 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:50:37Z |
publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
publisher | LUMA Centre Finland |
record_format | Article |
series | LUMAT |
spelling | doaj.art-483ec28d6dff4d139e423fcd726659df2022-12-22T04:08:22ZengLUMA Centre FinlandLUMAT2323-71122020-12-018110.31129/LUMAT.8.1.1416Pre-service teachers' conceptions about the quality of explanations for the science classroom in the context of peer assessmentValeria Cabello0Keith J. Topping1Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Facultad de Educación, Centro de Estudios de Políticas y Prácticas en Educación (CEPPE UC), ChileUniversity of Dundee, School of Education and Social Work, United KingdomThis study explored student-teacher conceptions of explanations for the science classroom during teacher education programs through peer-assessments of 20 pre-service teachers from three universities. The peer-assessments were reciprocal and focused on the explanation of scientific concepts during microteaching episodes. Student-teacher conceptions about the quality of scientific explanations were obtained by analysing their assessment-feedback comments to peers and by focus groups. The results showed that student-teacher conceptions about the quality of explanations for the science classroom were related to constructivist theory applied to science teaching, for instance, the participants noticed that better explanations were those that connected the concepts with the students' ideas and experiences. A follow-up with a sub-sample of six participants during a practicum in schools explored through interviews the perceived enablers and obstacles that affected their explanation construction in real settings leading to reframing their conceptions. This study revealed that peer assessment and feedback could play a significant role in teacher education by eliciting student-teacher conceptions about essential teaching practices and the challenges of explaining in real teaching, which might enhance and empower their skill development. We discuss implications for research and practice, with emphasis on peer assessment as a tool for internalising assessment criteria for fruitful science teaching.https://journals.helsinki.fi/lumat/article/view/1416pre-service teachersscientific explanationpeer assessmentlearning |
spellingShingle | Valeria Cabello Keith J. Topping Pre-service teachers' conceptions about the quality of explanations for the science classroom in the context of peer assessment LUMAT pre-service teachers scientific explanation peer assessment learning |
title | Pre-service teachers' conceptions about the quality of explanations for the science classroom in the context of peer assessment |
title_full | Pre-service teachers' conceptions about the quality of explanations for the science classroom in the context of peer assessment |
title_fullStr | Pre-service teachers' conceptions about the quality of explanations for the science classroom in the context of peer assessment |
title_full_unstemmed | Pre-service teachers' conceptions about the quality of explanations for the science classroom in the context of peer assessment |
title_short | Pre-service teachers' conceptions about the quality of explanations for the science classroom in the context of peer assessment |
title_sort | pre service teachers conceptions about the quality of explanations for the science classroom in the context of peer assessment |
topic | pre-service teachers scientific explanation peer assessment learning |
url | https://journals.helsinki.fi/lumat/article/view/1416 |
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