Presents research & innovation from several countries on elementary science teacher education; provides readers with a fuller understanding of the complexities involved and some of the efforts of current policies.

Contents: Foreword. Preface. S.E. Nichols, T. Koballa, Framing Issues of Elementary Science Teacher Education: Critical Conversations. Part I: Conceptualizing Elementary Science Teacher Education.L.B. Flick, Being an Elementary Science Teacher Educator. K. Appleton, Science Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Elementary School Teachers. W.J. Boone, Teaching by Distance. S.K. Abell, Challenges and Opportunities for Field Experiences in Elementary Science Teacher Preparation. J. Koch, Relating Learning Theories to Pedagogy for Preservice Elementary Science Education. M. Fleer, "Meaning-Making Science": Exploring the Sociocultural Dimensions of Early Childhood Teacher Education. Part II: Intersections of Content, Pedagogy, and Practice.J.K. Olson, K. Appleton, Considering Curriculum for Elementary Science Methods Courses. V. Prain, B. Hand, Language, Learning, and Science Literacy. K.C. Wieseman, H. Moscovici, A Standards-Infused Approach to Curriculum: A Promising Interdisciplinary Inquiry. A. Jones, The Role and Place of Technological Literacy in Elementary Science Teacher Education. C.A. Harrison, Assessment and Elementary Science Teacher Education. Part III: Contextualized Practice and Professional Development.E.H. van Zee, Teaching "Science Teaching" Through Inquiry. V.L. Akerson, A.R. McDuffie, The Elementary Science Teacher as Researcher. J.R. McGinnis, Cultural Considerations. L.A. Bryan, D.J. Tippins, Employing Case-Based Pedagogy Within a Relfection Orientation to Elementary Science Teacher Preparation. M.G. Jones, J. Edmunds, Models of Elementary Science Instruction: Roles of Science Specialist Teachers. K. Appleton, Future Directions in Elementary Science Teacher Education: Conclusion.