No abstract

Pre-service training for teachers-to-be is a fundamental missing piece of our museum-school partnership puzzle. Our museum practices can easily support common core curriculum and twenty-first century learning skills. 1Research has long validated museums as invaluable places of learning for everyone and teacher advocates are legion. Then why are the precepts of learning from objects and in-museum teaching opportunities not yet standard ingredients in all pre-service teacher training?Research using science-related sites suggests that pre-service candidates experience profound, positive changes in their views on teaching and learning when exposed to learning in informal settings. Pre-service teacher candidates' self-confidence about teaching science improved when informal science settings were added to elementary pre-service education? Out-of-school training in nature centers and science museums showed that pre-service elementary teachers found the experience comfortable. It built confidence and promoted greater science literacy.3 A study with aquarium staff showed that all participat-