The Impact of Professional Development on Teachers’ Views of Nature of Science (NOS): A Study on Early Years Science Education in the UAE

Nature of Science (NOS) is considered an essential component in science teaching and is incorporated into the early years curriculums in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Professional development workshops for 24 early childhood teachers in the UAE were conducted to increase their understanding of NOS. The teachers’ understanding before and after the intervention were examined using a 70-item questionnaire and individual interviews. Findings demonstrated that teachers’ understanding of NOS (the scientific aims and values, scientific practices, scientific knowledge, social-institutional aspects, and educational application of NOS) improved with higher mean scores in the post-test. No improvement was obtained in the understanding of ‘Methods and Methodological Rules’. In addition, participants showed a more positive viewpoint on the importance of teaching NOS in the early years alongside increased understanding of NOS concepts. Given the impact of the PD sessions and the inclusion of NOS in the curriculum, it is suggested that pre-service training courses and in-service PD should include specific training on NOS and how to teach it effectively in the early years.