Opinions of prospective teachers about utilizing the 5E instructional model

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the opinions of prospective teachers about utilizing the 5E instructional model. The study was carried out during spring semester of 2008 educational periods. The sample of the study consisted of 60 sophomore prospective teachers at the Department of Primary Teacher Education in Faculty of Education at Artvin comb University in Artvin. In the study, qualitative research method was used. This study was conducted in three stages. In the first stage, the prospective teachers were given national education standards which were about fourth and fifth class Science and Technology course and then they were asked to prepare an activity appropriate for the 5E instructional model. In the second stage, they were asked to carry out those activities into classroom. In the last stage, semi-structured interviews were followed up with the prospective teachers. The results of study revealed that the prospective teachers have positive opinions on applying of the 5E instructional model in classroom. They believe that the 5E instructional model provides the students to learn the topic. But the prospective teachers complained that insufficient learning materials and equipments which were needed for applying to the 5E model in classroom environment. In addition to these results, prospective teachers said that designing and implementing activities takes too much time when activity is practiced in classroom.