New Perspectives in Science Education

This paper reports on our research study undertaken by physics lecturers at Masaryk University. Cosmological discoveries over the past two decades have a great impact on both astronomy and Physics. We have prepared an innovation course, with topic Introduction to Cosmology, for our university students - especially future teachers. The teacher's competence in cosmology provides several advantages for thematic teaching. Teacher can help his students to acquire a cosmic vision of the world. We believe that teachers have to presents science as process that examines all of the evidence relevant to an issue and tests alternative hypotheses.

We can help teachers to incorporate the process of science into curriculla and show them well-established scientific theories including cosmological evolution.
This topic gives an opportunity to explore knowledge of the Universe in its complexity. Our paper discusses the results of case studies undertaken by physics lecturers in Cosmology topics. Authors have tried to find achievements and misconceptions among student's have completed course.

Our work has included piloting subject knowledge enhancement courses for initial teacher education and for teachers in schools, designing mentoring programmes to support newly qualified teachers, supporting teacher training institutions with their marketing programmes and creating innovative routes into teacher training for those with non-traditional backgrounds.