Teacher-Education Students` Epistemological Belief Change through Collaborative Knowledge Building

Abstract

Previons research indicates that epistemological beliefs are related to learning in various ways and have implications for teaching. This study further investigates whether it is possible change teacher-education students` epistemological beliefs by engaging them in a constructivist way of collaborative knowledge building and learning in an online environment called Knowledge Forum. Findings indicate that Knowledge Forum as a knowledge-building environment is helpful in (1) engaging students in their online knowledge work; (2) making them more collaborative and reflective in the community; and (3) shifting their epistemological and pedagogical beliefs to become more constructivist-oriented.