Museums, Universities & Pre-Service Teachers

Abstract

Pre-service training for teachers-to-be is a fundamental missing piece of our museum-school partnership puzzle. Our museum practices can easily support common core curriculum and twenty-first century learning skills. 1 Research has long validated museums as invaluable places of learning for everyone and teacher advocates are legion. Then why are the precepts of learning from objects and in-museum teaching opportunities not yet standard ingredients in all pre-service teacher training? Research using science-related sites suggests that pre-service candidates experience profound, positive changes in their views on teaching and learning when exposed to learning in informal settings. Pre-service teacher candidates’ self-confidence about teaching science improved when informal science settings were added to elementary pre-service education. 2 Out-of-school training in nature centers and science museums showed that pre-service elementary teachers found the experience comfortable. It built confidence and promoted greater science literacy. 3 A study with aquarium staff showed that all participating secondary pre-service biology teachers “experienced profound changes in their views of what it means to teach and learn, gained confidence in their ability to teach … felt empowered as science educators following their teaching in the informal setting … (and) increased understandings of the educational theories of constructivism and of ‘teachable moments.’” 4 These are basic and shared goals with museum educators.

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