Pre-Service Science Teachers' Views on Their Online Argumentation about What Is Happening in Middle School Science Classrooms during Their Practicum Period

In this study, Pre-service Science Teachers' (PSTs) views about the potential benefits and existing barriers of their argumentation on the World Wide Web about what is happening in middle school science classrooms during two semesters of their practicum experiences were investigated. "Special Web Group" called the "Collaborative Action Research in Science Teacher Education" (CARSTE) was constructed together with seven PSTs. PSTs were individually asked to send their observations reflecting whatever happens in the middle school science classes to CARSTE. Also, PSTs met twice each week for a 3-hour group session in order to carry out face to face argumentation in addition to their online argumentation. Simultaneously, PSTs had online and face to face argumentation about important issues of science education, such as traditional teaching, constructivist approach, attitudes toward and perceptions of science, authentic assessment, and nature of science. At the end of this study, CARSTE compiled an archive consisting of 325 individual e-mails. Both a paper-pencil test consisting of open-ended questions and individual interviews were employed to identify PSTs' views about their online argumentation. The results indicated that the important barriers that PSTs encountered when using the CARSTE appear to be the lack of adequate access to a network computer and structuring time to engage on the Internet. The results of open-ended survey showed that PSTs' online argumentation improved their attitudes toward teaching science and self-confidence, teachers' behaviors as a science teacher and their knowledge and perspectives about the important topics of science education. Also, the interpretive analysis of interview data indicated that PSTs described their online argumentation as an interesting way of sharing information, discussing their ideas as well as improving their ability to use computers and Internet. Almost all of the PSTs stated that their argumentative ability during the time of the study. (Contains 3 figures and 1 footnote.)