Resumen de Preservice Teachers in Secondary Social Studies: Examining Conceptions and Practices
Elizabeth K. Wilson, Bonnie C. Konopak, John E. Readence
The present study is an examination of preservice teachers' beliefs and practices about secondary social studies education. Social studies majors were surveyed prior to their content methods course and during student teaching on their conceptions of teaching and learning, and case study data were gathered on one preservice teacher in field and clinical situations. Overall, the preservice teachers held positive conceptions about social studies on both administrations of the survey, stressing active student learning and knowledge construction; however, the case study revealed inconsistencies with these beliefs, particularly during student teaching. Such results emphasize the necessity of meshing theories of instruction with the practical realities of the classroom.
