Research On Pre-service Science Teacher Education In Australia In The Context Of STEM Education

Nowadays,the quality of the teachers had become the common issue of the development of STEM education and the science teachers who played a significant role in STEM education has been given a lot of attention.The author has the opportunity to conduct a one-semester exchange in Australia to experience and review how Australian prepare the pre-service science teachers,and give some suggestion for Chinese pre-service science teachers education based on the Australian pattern and characteristics.The main methods of this research are literature review and interviewing.Firstly,based on the driving factors and development goals of STEM education in Australia,this paper reviews the standards,accreditation process and current situation of science teachers in Australia.Secondly,this paper presents the pattern of Australian pre-service science teacher training program in the context of STEM education from the three dimensions,including Australian pre-service science teacher training program,the unit outline of pedagogical content curriculum and in-class teaching,and analysing the characteristcis of each dimension.The characteristics of training programs including the double degree system and multiple course selection pattern;multi-subject supervision and phased practice;the integration of ICT and mathematic in science education;the respect of cultural and contextual differences;the normalization of the STEM teachers ' cultivation.Three main ideas behind the content has been summarized,which included closed relationship between curriculum objectives and professional teacher standards;the integration between PCK and the Australian curriculum strands;task-based learning assessment of focused teaching control and educational research ability.By interviewing the unit coordinator,this paper found out that the teaching ideas are"integration" and "inquiry".During the class,the atmosphere is free and harmonious in which the 5E teaching pattern is conducted well and the class environment is quite open.The detailed evaluation criteria and feedback help students in better handling their tasks.Comparing with the existing research of Chinese pre-service science teachers education,this research proposes some advice from three different dimensions:macroscopic policy,course structure and unit outline of pre-service science teachers,classroom teaching of science education.The suggestion included acceleration of the promulgation of the comprehensive standards for science teachers and improved the register system's qualification;promoting the partnership among universities,schools and industries;promoting the integration of STEM online resources;highlighting the STEM elements and exploring skills in course structure;complementing the cultivation patterns of science degrees and science education degrees;cultivated an open and diversified class atmosphere;paying attention to the pre-service science teachers' personal experience of project activities;the renewal of evaluation concepts and methods,provided timely feedback;attaching importance to the cultivation of ability to control science teaching.