Modeling is considered an important scientific practice, and modeling instruction has the potential to support conceptual change in students in physics. However, when students are not taught how to think about modeling, and how to develop and use models, the learning potential of modeling may be limited. This paper argues that the use and explicit teaching of metacognitive tools like interactive questioning and individual reflection increase students' ability to use and make sense of models. We present a sequence of activities incorporating metacognitive tools with a variety of models (mental, physical, simulated, and mathematical) in a high school physics unit of electricity. Using data from classroom observations, individual student reflections, group-created posters, and classroom discussion, we found evidence to demonstrate the complicated nature of conceptual change, the importance of using a variety of different representations (models) of a phenomenon, and the critical role of the teacher in learning. Teachers need to be aware of this process and able to give students the time they need to fully explore and develop multiple models and support to think critically about models. Although many classrooms are limited in time, this process is necessary to move beyond rote memorization toward meaningful conceptual change.

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Purpose of the study: Reflective practices are considered very important and influential for teacher training and professional development. This study was conducted by using a narrative perspective. The main aim of this study was to explore the role of reflective practices in building teacher educators’ professional lives. Their stories were explored to understand what is needed to become an effective teacher educator. Methodology: The current research involved six teacher educators from GCETs selected purposively as research participants. Semi-structured interviews were used as data collection instruments. Teacher educators who have a minimum of ten years of experience were interviewed. After gathering stories, the researchers build categories and themes from interview data. The narratives of teacher educators were reconstructed through analysis and discussion. Main Findings: The findings of the current research reveal that reflective practices can play a very effective role in the professional grooming of teacher educators. The effective use of reflective practice tools is significant in building these practices. It is implicated by the study findings that novice teacher educators and future teacher educators can learn from the experiences of experienced teacher educators. Novelty: This research will help the administration to know about problems that teacher educators face while using reflective practices. Future researchers can be helped to explore the ways that how the reflective practices-related challenges and problems can tackle. Moreover, how the reflective practices of school teachers and college teachers can be made more effective.