The effect of blended learning based science methods course and school experience on pre-service science teachers' technological pedagogical content knowledge and classroom practice

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of blended learning based on social constructivism compared to face to face learning on Pre-service Science Teachers' (PSTs) Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and classroom teaching practices, involving the topics of photosynthesis and cellular respiration, acid rain and electricity. This study was carried out upon 58 4th grade pre-service science teachers in the Department of Science Education Program in Faculty of Education during 2010-2011 academic year. The PSTs were randomly assigned as experimental (N=30) and control group (N=28). This study was carried out as part of as part of "Science Methods Course-II (SMC-II)" and "School Experience (SE)". While these courses were designed according to blended learning based on social constructivism for the experimental group, this courses were designed according to face to face learning environment for the control group. The courses of ÖÖY-II and OD were designed based on natüre of science and scientific inquiry for the Pre-service science teachers to learn how to perform their science teaching in point view of nature of science and scientific inquiry. In the online sessions of this study for the experimental group, synchronous, asynchronous discussions, online assessment and feedback, information sharing form and e-portfolio on Moodle Learning Management Systems were used. The vignette based semi-structured individual interview and lesson preparation for the PSTs' PCK and TPCK; field notes, video records and Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP) for the PSTs'classroom teaching practices were used as data collection tools in this study. In this experimental study based on pre-test post-test control group design, the data were obtained for the PSTs' PCK, TPCK and classroom teaching practices were collected in the beginning and final of this study. The statistical analyses (MANCOVA) of the experimental data revealed that the experimental groups were statistically better than the control groups as regards to PSTs' PCK, TPCK and classroom teaching classrooms. These results were also supported with the qualitative data. The results of this study were discussed in terms of Turkish Teacher Training System. Key Words: Blended Learning, Classroom Practice, Pre-service Science Teachers, PCK, TPCK.