A Narrative Inquiry into Teaching Physics as Inquiry: One Teacher's Journey

Abstract

In order to teach science effectively, teachers need a strong background in science content as well as an understanding of productive methods of teaching. This includes inquiry-based learning that will cultivate conceptual development of science concepts with their students. Furthermore, it is imperative to use student-focused activities in high-needs schools to engage all students, particularly students of color, in the learning process. As a result, faculty from the teachHOUSTON Program and the Department of Physics at the University of Houston produced a Physics by Inquiry course to engage middle school and high school preservice teachers in interactive, inquiry-based teaching pedagogies for physics. This chapter provides an overview of the course. It also highlights the benefits of including such a course in a STEM teacher education program.

Citation

Evans, P.K., Stokes, D.W. and Craig, C.J. (2021), "A Narrative Inquiry into Teaching Physics as Inquiry: One Teacher's Journey", Craig, C.J., Evans, P.K. and Stokes, D.W. (Ed.) Preparing Teachers to Teach the STEM Disciplines in America’s Urban Schools (Advances in Research on Teaching, Vol. 35), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 41-64. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-368720210000035004