Exploring and Addressing Pre-Service Teachers’ Ability to Correlate Macroscopic Phenomenon with its Microscopic Explanation and Symbolic Representation in Science

In this research study, the ability of pre- service teachers to correlate macroscopic explanation of scientific phenomenon with its microscopic explanation and representation at symbolic level has been explored and addressed also. Twenty pre service teachers were asked to explain the process of boiling of water, freezing of water and the dissolution of sugar in water at macroscopic, microscopic and symbolic level. The findings revealed that pre service teachers could not correlate the macroscopic explanation with its microscopic explanation and symbolic representation. The limited understanding of pre service teachers with respect to shapes of molecules, molecular geometry and strength of different bonds was addressed. The implications of findings for teacher education program have been discussed.