Do Future Primary Science Teachers Feel Confident to Transform Scientific Ecological Knowledge into School Knowledge? ? Case Study in Bulgaria

This study presents the students& #039, confidence to transform scientific ecological knowledge animal diversity into school knowledge, at lesson level as a part of the school subject Human and Nature which is learned in Bulgarian primary schools 4th grade. The students are future primary teachers. During the course Ecological Education a methodology was developed and implemented, aims at making students feel better and building their confidence about teaching science in primary school. A data matrix was designed and used by the lecturer, which consists of two components an individual student activity level during the Ecological education training course and a self-assessment of student& #039, s confidence in preparation of model goals learning resources learning strategies at the lesson level. All data were collected between February and May 2017. The obtained data were analyzed through a Structured Observation and Self-assessment questionnaire for student& #039, s confidence. The results of this study are based on a sample of 25 students and 22 of them have confidence to transform scientific ecological knowledge animal diversity into school one. These students, as future primary science teachers, are able to provide adequate professional decisions, according to the enforced changes in the normative framework for primary school science education and the development of scientific literacy.