Prospective Chemistry Teachers’ Use of Student-Centered Learning During Their Teaching Practicum

Abstract

This chapter by Ferk Savec and Wissiak Grm is a concluding chapter of this book. Well-educated teacher is an important factor during student’ chemistry learning, and for that reason teachers’ education is presented at the end. It shows the importance of the pre-service chemistry teachers’ using of student-centered learning during their teacher education pre-service program. During practical pedagogical training, pre-service chemistry teachers—students of the third and fourth year at the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana must use the knowledge gained through a number of theoretical and pedagogical subjects in the framework of their tertiary education. This means that they must also use student-centered learning methods, which facilitate the learning of chemistry with understanding. Authors researched students’ aspects about student-centered learning methods and their ability to use them effectively during their practical pedagogical training. The results suggest that students recognize many advantages of using student-centered learning methods in the chemistry classroom but, due to their limited experience, they are unable to use them as effectively as they would like.