Effective assessment practices in an inquiry-based science and technology education course in an Australian teacher education program

Abstract

Poor quality and limited numbers of dedicated science teachers in schools has been the subject of recent attention in the Australian media and science education community. Despite significant attention to improving science teaching with practicing teachers and schools, the quality of science education in pre-service teacher education programs has been largely ignored. Yet pre-service programs provide the perfect opportunity to excite and empower future teachers and their students to ensure high quality and highly motivated science and technology teaching in schools in the future. This paper describes how an inquiry-based science and technology subject used innovative assessment approaches to inspire and motivate 186 2nd year undergraduate students in the teaching and learning of science and technology across two USQ campuses in Queensland.