University teachers’ conceptions about science and science learning, and how they address the promotion of scientific skills in Biology teacher-training

Abstract

This research explores the conceptions about science of a group of Chilean University teachers, with the aim of relating their visions as to what science is and how it is learned. In addition, we analysed information about the scientific skills that they claim to promote in their classes, and how this relates to their conceptions. The study is a mixed investigation, in which the information on the study variables was recorded through a questionnaire and interviews. The results showed the existence of a positive relation between an empirical view of science and the traditional view of science learning; we also found a positive relation between the constructivist view of learning and the teachers’ claims that they promote scientific skills.