Investigating the nature of science: An empirical report on the teacher development program in Thailand

Abstract

Nature of Science (NOS) is a basic of understandings on how science concerns human lives and social development. If the nature of science is lost in science education and its implementation, the concept of science learning is failed in science education philosophy. Pre-service teachers are the initial vital factors to introduce and implement NOS for their future students. This study investigates understandings of nature of the science of pre-service science teachers from bachelor study in science education program. Participants were 121 preservice science teachers who enrolled in the second semester in the academic year 2017 from a university in the northeast of Thailand. Questionnaires via Google Forms were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and qualitative data were provided. Data were analyzed and grouped by level of understandings of NOS. A correlation was also studied for testing different beliefs. The findings indicated that NOS needs to be embedded in the curriculum and instruction to achieve the goal of science education. Further discussion and exploration are required for the enhancement of NOS through the teacher preparation program.