Investigation of the impact of the lesson study method on the perceptions of science education and science education applications of science teachers

In the period we live in, the qualities that individuals should have are increasing. The biggest role in increasing these qualities falls to education. The most important role in the society to reach a better future and in the development of the country falls to education. A distinctive education is required to raise people with distinctive features (Küçükahmet, 1995). In addition to the education they receive at universities, teacher candidates should use different methods that they can use in laboratory lessons and that will also contribute to their professional development and carefully review the functioning. In the study, it was aimed to examine the effect of lesson imitation practices carried out within the scope of special education course on science teacher candidates' perceptions of science education and science education practices. Since it is thought that it will allow the examination of pre-service teachers' perceptions of science education and their applications, the case study has been adopted as a research design. The study group consisted of science education third grade teacher candidates. Pre-service teachers who want to use different learning techniques within the scope of the course were given the opportunity to design and present lessons in accordance with the lecture model. The presentations made were evaluated through the lesson observation and evaluation scale suitable for the lesson work. After the first lesson presentation, pre-service teachers were asked to make a review based on the criticism and suggestions to improve their presentations, and to redesign and repeat their lecture presentations. The research was collected with the opinions form on science teaching and science education activities observation form. The observation form was analyzed statistically. Normality test was performed to measure which tests can be applied to the data in the observation form. Test result showed normalcy. Independent t-test was conducted to look at the difference between 1st and 2nd application within the scope of the lesson that the teacher candidates repeated. As a result, it was seen that the scores obtained from the scale increased in the second application. Content analysis was applied to the data obtained through the interview form for opinions on science education used in the study. The data obtained through the scale used in the evaluation of the lecture presentations were subjected to descriptive and comparative statistical analysis. The results of the interviews conducted with the pre-service teachers defined the lesson as a difficult but developing practice that requires being criticized and considering criticism. It is believed that the lesson study, which enables the review of learning environments and redesign with a developmental point of view, is beneficial for science teacher candidates as well as other teacher candidates and educators.