Identification of Requirements of Primary School Teacher Candidates for Science Education

Abstract

In this research, it was aimed to determine the requirements of Science and Technology Teaching I and II courses of primary school teacher candidates, who are studying in Primary School Teacher Training Undergraduate Program of Education Faculties, within the scope of science education. In line with this study purpose, data were obtained by case study which is among the qualitative data gathering techniques. In this respect, the requirements of primary school teacher candidates were determined using data collection tools such as observation and interview. The identification of requirements studies were carried out and data were collected in the research process that started in 2013 until 2015. Two different universities Science and Technology Teaching I and II courses were observed and 18 primary school teacher candidates, who attend these courses, were selected by stratified sampling method and two different focus group interviews were conducted. In the analysis of the data obtained in the research, Nvivo 10 qualitative data analysis program was used and the data were analyzed descriptively. As a result of the research, it can be said that in the Science and Technology Teaching I and II courses, the teacher candidates can not demonstrate many expected behaviors and the curriculum applied by the teaching staff in the Primary School Teacher Training Undergraduate Program can not fully meet the requirements of the teacher candidates.