1Third Misconceptions Seminar Proceedings (1993) Paper Title: MISCONCEPTIONS IN LEARNING TO TEACH SCIENCE: STUDENT TEACHERS ' STORIES OF UNFULFILLED EXPECTATIONS

Abstract: This paper suggests that Hawkins ' concept of “critical barriers ” can be applied to the experiences of individuals learning to teach. Data are drawn from mid-year interviews and end-of-year personal stories by students in a physics method class in a post-degree preservice teacher education program. Student teachers ' assumptions and expectations are seen as barriers to the intended learning processes of the preservice program. Seven barriers are identified and illustrated. These barriers may be particularly high for science, math and engineering graduates, whose undergraduate programs implicitly reject the value of personal voice and experience. Keywords