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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Main Authors: Valeria Cabello, Keith J. Topping
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: LUMA Centre Finland 2020-12-01
Series:LUMAT
Subjects:
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.
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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
work_keys_str_mv AT valeriacabello preserviceteachersconceptionsaboutthequalityofexplanationsforthescienceclassroominthecontextofpeerassessment
AT keithjtopping preserviceteachersconceptionsaboutthequalityofexplanationsforthescienceclassroominthecontextofpeerassessment