Physics Education: Effect of Micro-teaching Method Supported by Educational Technologies on Pre-service Science Teachers’ Misconceptions on Basic Astronomy Subjects

Abstract

The purpose of this research study is to explore pre-service science teachers’ misconceptions on basic astronomy subjects and to examine the effect of micro teaching method supported by educational technologies on correcting misconceptions. This study is an action research. Semi- structured interviews were used in the study as a data collection tool to identify pre-service teachers’ misconceptions on basic astronomy subjects. The data gathered from the interviews were interpreted via descriptive analysis. The research was carried out with 20 pre-service teachers studying in the 4^th grade in Faculty of Education, Department of Primary School Science Teaching at a university located in Eastern Black Sea Region, Turkey. 20 pre-service science teachers who participated in the study developed materials about basic astronomy subjects and they used micro-teaching method supported with appropriate educational technologies for 12 weeks. All the implementations were carried out under the supervision of the researcher and after the implementations, the researcher and the pre-service teachers watched the video recordings together and necessary feedback was given. At the beginning of the research, pre-service teachers who made up the sample of the study had various misconceptions about basic astronomy subjects; however, it was found that these misconceptions which were detected were corrected with micro-teaching method at the end of the research study. The study was completed with recommendations regarding using educational technologies and micro teaching method and correction of misconceptions.