Tell me a story: relevance, science pedagogy and the teaching profession

No education system can rise above the level of its teachers, hence their crucial role in society. The article looks at the importance of pedagogical courses from the stories as told by pre-service science teachers doing a diploma programme in science education with Bindura University of Science Education. Convenience sampling was used to sample a total of 36 participants who completed a closed 4 –point lirket scale questionnaire. The questionnaire sought views of pre-service teachers on how pedagogical courses assisted them to teach science and any other improvements on present course outlines to enhance their teaching skills. Data were also obtained from focus group discussions with respondents. The group discussions focused on issues to do with relevance of pedagogical courses to science teaching, the teaching profession in general and the importance of teachers in science teaching and learning. The major research findings were that pre-service teachers attach great value to pedagogical courses in shaping and moulding the science teacher and that the courses enhance pre-service teachers’ art of teaching.