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Primary school teachers’ views about problem solving in teaching and learning science
Citation
Lee, L. K. W., & Tan, L. L. (1999). Primary school teachers’ views about problem solving in teaching and learning science. In S. P. Loo (Ed.), Proceedings of the MERA-ERA Joint Conference 1999: Educational Challenges in the New Millennium (pp. 945-952). Malaysian Educational Research Association; Educational Research Association (Singapore).
Author
Lee, Lucille Kam Wah
•
Tan, Li Li
Abstract
This study investigated how science teachers perceived problem solving in the context of teaching and learning science in primary schools. Teachers’ views were probed through a survey method using both open-ended and 5-point Likert-scaled type of questions. Three hundred and forty eight trained teachers from 36 primary schools were involved in this study. It was found that the teachers’ views about teaching and learning problem solving ranged from the beginning aspects of the teaching process, such as the identification of a problem/question for investigation, group work, developing basic and integrated process skills, to the concluding aspects of the teaching process. However, some teachers seemed to have misunderstood the nature of the problem-solving teaching approach. These findings have implications for primary school science instruction and for programs for professional development. Some of these implications will be addressed.
Date Issued
1999
Description
This paper was published in the 1999 Proceedings of the MERA-ERA Joint Conference held at Malacca, Malaysia from 1-3 December 1999