Article HistoryReceived: 15 June 2016The aim of this paper is to examine the importance of contextualization of Nature of Science (NOS) within the Socioscientific Issues (SSI) framework, because of the importance to science education. The emphasis on advancing scientific literacy is contingent upon a robust understanding and appreciation of NOS, as well as the acquisition of socioscientific reasoning, skills, and values. Students" negotiations within SSI are influenced by a variety of factors related to NOS such as scientific knowledge, data interpretations and social interactions including an individuals" own articulation of personal beliefs. Since NOS and SSI have become fundamental constructs in science education, especially for achieving scientific literacy, it is conceptually important to highlight the rationale(s) behind the contextualization of NOS within the SSI framework. This paper reviews research that entails the integration of SSI with NOS, exploring the nuanced relationships between these two areas. We do this in three sections presenting key aspects of: (a) SSI in science education; (b) NOS in science education; and (c) contextualization of NOS in SSI.

Today's life requires individuals to be prepared for complex world environment, to make complex decisions, and to have critical thinking skills related to everyday life issues at hand. STEM education is thought to be the glorious solution to thrive in a global knowledge driven world. Teachers are key elements for successful STEM education. Present study aims to investigate the preservice primary school, mathematics and science teachers STEM awareness. Quantitative research methodology guided the present study. Cross-sectional survey type which collects information from a sample that has been selected from a predetermined population was used. Stem Awareness Scale, a five point Likert type instrument developed by Buyruk and Korkmaz (2016), was used to measure preservice teachers STEM awareness. Data was collected from 558 (371 female, 187 male) preservice teachers enrolled in three different teacher preparation programs. The results of this research demonstrates that there is no significant interaction effect for gender and department variables however there is significant difference among different department students STEM awareness preservice science teachers' and preservice primary school teachers STEM awareness scores have similar mean values and also outnumbers the preservice mathematics teachers' STEM awareness.

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There are certain threats embedded in scientific development that confront society. Gaining practical and instrumental experiences in addressing topics related to the major challenges that confront society today can be possible by tapping the socio-scientific issues as a part of science teaching and learning. This research aimed to explore pre-service teachers' reflective judgment skills in socioscientific issues based inquiry science laboratory course. The participants of the research were 20 pre-service teachers at a research oriented public university. Qualitative case study research design was used in this study. The laboratory manuals and semi-structured interviews were used as data collection tools. Data were analyzed by using King and Kitchener's (1994) reflective judgment framework. Results of the study showed that pre-service teachers' reflective judgment scores tended to increase from the first experiment to the last experiment. Results suggested that exploring reflective judgment in socio-scientific contexts is beneficial for allowing pre-service teachers to actively engage in knowledge construction.

The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of micro teaching practices on preservice science teachers' self efficacy beliefs towards science teaching. The study was carried out with the volunteer participation of 50 senior preservice science teachers as part of Science Teaching Method course. The data was collected in 2016-2017 spring semester through 14 weeks. Mixed method research design using both qualitative and quantitative research methods guided the study. Science Teaching Self-efficacy Beliefs (STEBI) Scale originally developed by Riggs & Enochs (1990) and adapted to Turkish by Tekkaya, Çakıroğlu & Özkan (2004) was used two times as pre-post test, before and after the investigation. In addition to STEBI, semi structured interviews were conducted to explore preservice teachers' views about micro teaching practices. The results of the study showed that micro teaching experiences have significant effect on preservice teachers' self-efficacy beliefs.

Abstract:This study aimed to adapt views about scientific inquiry questionnaire in to Turkish, originally developed by Lederman et al (2014), and to explore preservice teachers' views about scientific inquiry. The questionnaire was translated into Turkish by three researchers and the translation of the items from English to Turkish was compared. The final paper was sent to three experts in the field to get expert opinion. After making the necessary corrections, 30 teacher candidates were interviewed to look at the clarity of the questions on the form. The final form was applied to 314 teacher candidates. Expert opinion supports that the translated items have content validity in terms of measuring eight of the targeted scientific inquiry components in the original scale. Data was analyzed by three researchers independently in order to ensure researcher triangulation. Inter-rater agreement was 95%; however, after raters had the opportunity to "calibrate" their coding scheme with one another, consensus was established virtually assuring nearly full agreement. Results of the investigation showed that preservice teachers generally have transformative views few of them have naive views about scientific inquiry.

The rapid changes in science and technology have changed the traditional education concept by improving the accessibility of information. Current educational understandings require the application of flexible programs that respond to differences in the interests and abilities of the students and that can go into diversity within themselves. One of these approaches is the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) approach. This study aims to explore the effect of STEM based laboratory activities on preservice teachers STEM awareness. The study was conducted in science laboratory practices

This study aimed to explore preservice teachers' (PTs) argumentation quality during socioscientific issues (SSI) based classroom discussions. The participants of the study were 20 PTs from the Department of Elementary Education at a large, research oriented public university in Turkey. Qualitative case study method was used in this study. The study covered four socioscientific issues (food additives, alternative energy sources, climate change, and the industrial revolution). Each issue was discussed in the classroom and each discussion was video recorded. Video recordings were transcribed verbatim and used as data source. Classroom discussions verbatim transcribes were analyzed by using a modified version of Toulmin's argumentation pattern (TAP) model. The modified approach was found to be more conducive to informal argumentation patterns, in order to analyze preservice teachers' use of claims, grounds, warrants, backings, and rebuttals that support their debate positions, as well as their ability to use evidence-based reasoning, form coherent lines of reasoning, and use of correct (appropriate) evidence. Results of the study revealed that preservice teachers' use of evidence to support conflicting ideas tended to increase as their use of incorrect or insufficient use of evidence decreased through the present study.