An Interest Driven Learning Project for Preservice Teachers
Abstract: Interests driven learning has the potential to enhance the inquiry based learning process by contextualizing curriculum as students investigate scientific questions, collecting and analyzing data, and construct reasonable conclusions relative to their interests. This poster presentation a project and its findings that involved preservice teachers developing science lessons from student interests. How might interest driven learning enhance preservice teachers’ ability to teach science through inquiry-based learning? How might interest driven learning influence students’ perception of science in their future careers? The preservice teachers reported positive attitudes toward teaching science while connecting student career interests with science content. The project also reported having a positive impact on students' perceptions of science associated with their chosen careers.