A One-Quarter, Inquiry-Based Physics Course for Preservice Elementary Teachers Using Gender Neutral Course Materials

许多小学教师对使用基于探究的方法教授物理科学感到不舒服，也没有必要的背景来将科学作为与男女学生日常生活有关的性别中立活动。 这主要得益于他们的大学教育。这里提出的工作将导致修订的职前教师，特别是那些在机构采用季度制度的物理课程。该课程将作为一系列实践活动和探索/研究项目来开发，并将包括关于男女和各种种族背景的科学家的历史和当前传记材料。这些活动将侧重于健康和环境等学生，特别是女生所关心的领域。将在课堂上测试课程对男女学生的有效性，并将通过文献和电子媒体传播结果。课程的最后版本将通过一个出版商提供供普遍采用。

Many elementary school teachers do not feel comfortable teaching physical science using inquiry-based methods and do not have the required background to present science as agender-neutral activity that relates to the every-day lives of both male and female students. This is primarily a result of their university training. The work proposed here would result in a revised introductory physics curriculum for pre-service teachers, particularly those at institutions employing the quarter system. The curriculum is to be developed as a series of hands-on activities and exploration/research projects, and will include historical and current biographical material on scientists of both sexes and a variety of racial backgrounds. The activities will focus on areas, such as health and the environment, that have been shown to be of concern to students, particularly female students. Effectiveness of the curriculum for both male and female students will be tested in the classroom and results will be disseminated in the literature and through electronic media. A final version of the curriculum will be made available for general adoption through a publisher.