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

许多小学教师对以探究为基础的方法教授物理感到不舒服，也没有必要的背景来将科学作为与年龄无关的活动来呈现，这与男女学生的日常生活都有关。这主要是他们大学教育的结果。这里提议的工作将导致为职前教师，特别是那些在使用四分之一制的机构的教师修订入门物理课程。该课程将作为一系列实践活动和探索/研究项目来开发，将包括关于不同性别和不同种族背景的科学家的历史和当前传记材料。这些活动将集中在健康和环境等已被证明是学生，特别是女学生关心的领域。将在课堂上测试男女学生课程的有效性，结果将在文献中和通过电子媒体传播。该课程的最终版本将通过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.