Professional Development In Science Education Research Articles

Using an ‘effective’ model of professional development in science education to improve primary teachers’ classroom practice: the CSSP experience

ABSTRACT The international research literature concludes that effective professional development for teachers needs to: be truly collaborative involving an active role for practitioners; help break down teacher insulation and isolation; provide opportunities for teachers to work together in developing their classroom practices. However, professional development, as understood in the Irish context, tends to be characterised by predominantly transmission of knowledge models. The Clare Small Schools Project (CSSP) is an innovative professional development programme in primary science education in Ireland. Its constituent partners are Clare Education Centre, Dublin City University and small rural primary schools in County Clare. It is planned and designed in accordance with agreed characteristics of transformative professional development: ongoing, collaborative, embedded in teachers’ work, with an emphasis on changing classroom practice. This paper draws on the key developments emerging from the programme. Findings show that the CSSP is making positive changes in teachers’ individual and collaborative practices and is helping teachers overcome professional isolation. Key to this is the prominent role the Education Centre plays in encouraging participatory approaches to practice. These findings add to what is known about providing transformative professional development. They have far-reaching implications for teacher educators in Ireland and farther afield.

A Learning Cycle Approach for Inquiry-Based Teaching 5E Instructional Model

The implementation of inquiry-based teaching is a major theme in national science education reform documents. Science for All Americans (Rutherford & Alhgren, 1990) and the National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996). This research argue that inquiry needs to be a central strategy of all science curricula. Using a learning cycle approach in the classroom helps to facilitate inquiry practices because learning cycles focus on constructivist principles and emphasize the explanation and investigation of phenomena, the use of evidence to back up conclusions, and experimental design. Although there are several variations of learning cycles, the one that is highlighted in this research as a method to support inquiry-based teaching is the 5E Instructional Model (Bybee & Landes, 1990). The use of this model in several science education professional development programs is also addressed.

Professional development tune-up

Given the time and resources invested in teacher professional development, it is important to find ways to extend positive outcomes over the long term. Judith Haymore Sandholtz, Cathy Ringstaff, and Jessica Triant investigated whether modest follow-up supports influenced the sustainability of outcomes for elementary school teachers who had previously participated in science education professional development programs. Results indicate that follow-up supports reversed declines (in the years after the professional development ended) in teachers’ sense of preparedness to teach science, use of selected instructional strategies, and implementation of inquiry-based student activities in science.

Kompetanseutvikling i et profesjonelt læringsfellesskap: En studie av læreres samtaler om undervisning for dybdelæring

A way to facilitate schools in adapting to a changing society, is through teachers’ professional development in learning communities. This study followed a group of primary school teachers in a professional learning community at their own school, as they discussed principles of teaching for deep learning while working with a resource for professional development in science education. The purpose of the study has been to explore if and how conducting the resource in their local learning community would contribute to the teachers’ professional development in teaching for deep learning. The results indicates changes in the teachers’ perspectives during the process, from emphasizing challenges to emphasizing strengths and possibilities associated to implementing principles for deep learning in their teaching. The changes of perspectives appears to relate to how the teachers’ self-efficacy was influenced positively by the students’ response as they implemented the principles in their teaching practice.

Teaching about sustainability through inquiry-based science in Irish primary classrooms: the impact of a professional development programme on teacher self-efficacy, competence and pedagogy

Research suggests that innovative and engaging professional development is instrumental in supporting teachers in developing their competence and confidence in teaching sustainability. An international initiative was developed to explore whether a competencies-oriented Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) professional development model was transferable across three different international contexts (Ireland, Germany and Mexico). This paper reports on the adaptation of this model within the Irish context, through the development of an innovative professional development programme for primary teachers. Through a mixed-methods approach which gathered data via pre- and post-programme surveys, teachers’ reflective journals and post-programme group interviews, the paper explores Irish primary school teachers’ experiences of, and attitudes towards, teaching sustainability through science education after participation in a professional development programme. The findings suggest that this programme, structured around the existing evidence for effective professional development in science education and ESD, positively influences teachers’ self-efficacy, supports teachers’ critical engagement with sustainability competencies and promotes the development of transformative pedagogies for sustainability through Inquiry-Based Science Education.

Teaching Science at the Primary school Level: “Problems Teachers’ are facing”

This study aimed at ascertaining the problems teachers face teaching science at the primary level. Literature reviewed relating to school science have suggested that students lack interest in science. This lack of interest on the part of the students may be as a result of problems teachers face implementing the science curriculum at the primary level. These problems if not identified may affect the quality of science education. The study was guided by one research question which was further sub- divided into two sub- questions. A descriptive survey research design was used. A 20 item questionnaire was administered to eighty teachers from ten primary schools from the administrative regions five and six in Guyana. . Validation of the instrument was achieved through the contribution of a science educator from the University of Guyana. A reliability coefficient of 0.77 was obtained using Spearman-Brown split half coefficient. Data collected were analysed using mean and percentages. The finding showed that teachers admitted that they need continuous professional development sessions to enhance their science instruction and science content knowledge. It was therefore recommended that a research study be conducted to ascertain the teachers' specific area of interest for continuous professional development in science education.

Professional changes of primary science teachers: experience on collaborative action research in Thailand

This article focuses on impacts of collaborative action research with a spiral process of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting that had been used as a strategy to promote teacher professional development in science education of Thailand. With the school principals’ support, three primary science teachers’ instructional practices are the subject of individual case studies. A range of qualitative methods and data sources including participant observations, individual and collective interviews, teacher and student artifacts were adapted to elicit evidence related to change of teaching practices and perceptions on action research activities. The case study analysis showed that collaborative action research enabled the primary science teachers to change their teaching practices within the classroom conditions. Factors that were identified as important to these changes included: 1) the primary teachers needed school leadership that powerfully attends to their professional development activities; and 2) the teachers needed a university coach to collaboratively reflect and suggest how to teach in the particular subject i.e. science. In the case of a primary teacher who, having no qualifications (i.e., certification-related teacher preparation) in science teaching, additionally needed a community of professional teachers willing to collaboratively reflect on classroom experiences for better inquiry into science teaching practices. As a means to sustain the changes in this educational context, implementing the collaborative action research while providing opportunities for parents to observe and reflect upon teachers’ classroom teaching practices was also found to be important.

Science Education Professional Development for Primary/Elementary Teachers: A tale of two systems

This paper reports on the illuminatory and exploratory phase of a study into how two educational systems are interconnecting content, policy, and teaching practice into science professional development (PD). New Zealand implemented a new curriculum in 2007 for full implementation in 2010, which should have altered how science was delivered in primary classrooms. New Zealand, however, began limited PD in science education in 2012. The state of Arkansas in the United States of America endorsed the Next Generation Science Standards in 2015, adopted the new Arkansas K-4 Science Standards in 2016 and Years 5–8 in 2017. Arkansas, however, began its science PD in 2015. Through face-to-face discussions during PD sessions, this study investigated how the teachers were experiencing PD explicitly based on the interconnections of content, policy, and practice. The results of this first phase highlight how due to their participation in PD, teachers in both Arkansas and New Zealand are now talking about how they build on what their students’ know and have experienced. The implications of this research note teachers not only need both the time and opportunity to experience learning but also support as they then implement their new learning into their own classroom practice.

Examining Science Educators’ Perspectives on Learning Progressions in a Climate Change Education Professional Development Program

ABSTRACTIn the context of a weeklong summer professional development program focused on climate change education, we conducted a qualitative case study investigating how science educators’ understandings of learning progressions (LPs) informed their ideas about climate change teaching practice. Participants (N = 27) in the Climate Academy were middle school (n = 14), high school (n = 7), higher education (n = 2), and informal (n = 4) science educators from 2 Mid-Atlantic states in the United States. In cooperation with other Climate Academy facilitators, we engaged participants in a variety of professional learning activities, among which were exploring LPs and their potential utility for informing climate change teaching practice. During these activities with LPs, the science educators engaged with LPs on 2 constructs relevant to climate change: carbon cycling and sea level rise. We collected data in the forms of observational field notes and personal interviews to gain insight into participants’ perspectives on LPs and their potential utility for supporting instructional decision making related to climate change. Our analysis of the data indicated that participants related LPs to 4 key areas: advancing student understanding, assessing student understanding, instructional planning, and providing instructional supports. We found that our participants assimilated LP ideas into their preexisting views of teaching and learning, which could facilitate or hinder transformation in their instructional approaches. Implications apply directly to science educator professional development in climate change education and in general to professional development in science education that includes LPs as a focus.

Primary teachers conducting inquiry projects: effects on attitudes towards teaching science and conducting inquiry

ABSTRACTThis study used an experimental, pretest-posttest control group design to investigate whether participation in a large-scale inquiry project would improve primary teachers’ attitudes towards teaching science and towards conducting inquiry. The inquiry project positively affected several elements of teachers’ attitudes. Teachers felt less anxious about teaching science and felt less dependent on contextual factors compared to the control group. With regard to attitude towards conducting inquiry, teachers felt less anxious and more able to conduct an inquiry project. There were no effects on other attitude components, such as self-efficacy beliefs or relevance beliefs, or on self-reported science teaching behaviour. These results indicate that practitioner research may have a partially positive effect on teachers’ attitudes, but that it may not be sufficient to fully change primary teachers’ attitudes and their actual science teaching behaviour. In comparison, a previous study showed that attitude-focused professional development in science education has a more profound impact on primary teachers’ attitudes and science teaching behaviour. In our view, future interventions aiming to stimulate science teaching should combine both approaches, an explicit focus on attitude change together with familiarisation with inquiry, in order to improve primary teachers’ attitudes and classroom practices.

Developing a collaborative model in teacher education – An overview of a teacher professional development project

The article discusses the development of an educational model intended to support teachers’ professional development in science education. In this research and development project, LumaLähetit, pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and teacher educators formed teams to collaboratively plan teaching and produce material for inquiry-based and integrative science instruction in primary schools. The results are based on three design cycles of the model. Thus far, ten schools, 24 in-service teachers, 30 pre-service teachers, and 560 pupils have participated. The results, which are based on the qualitative content analysis of participants’ open answers to a questionnaire, indicate that the developed collaborative model for science education supported preservice teachers and in-service teachers’ professional development in many ways. Several processes mediating the embodiment of the designed model were identified, especially during the second or third design cycles. Participants reflected on theory and practice. They experienced increased knowledge about inquiry and integrative approaches, collaborated in teams to some extent, and found this to be supportive during the project. Also, pre-service teachers appreciated the opportunity to teach in the schools. In general, careful goal setting, collaboration between the participants, and guidance by teacher educators during the initiation of the project were found to be crucial to the further success of the project. The results highlight a need for further research in order to better meet to the challenges of team teaching, inquiry-based instruction, and integrative teaching. The designed model was developed between the cycles and must be further developed in the future, especially in terms of supporting collaboration and clarifying theoretical concepts during the project.

Professional Development and Teacher Change: The Missing Leadership Link

Professional development in science education aims to support teacher learning with the ultimate goal of improving student achievement. A multitude of factors influence teacher change and the effectiveness of professional development. This review of the literature explores these factors and identifies school and district science leaders as a critical factor missing from current professional development models. School and district leaders play a significant role in the planning and implementation of professional development, as well as providing ongoing leadership to support teacher change. Considering this role, school district leaders are not just a contextual factor, but rather an integral part of the process and should be integrated into and considered part of any professional development model in science education.

Current trends and missing links in studies on teacher professional development in science education: a review of design features and quality of research

This review provides an overview of the the current state of research on professional development in science education. An analytical frame was used, based on what is known about PD from educational research. Clarke and Hollingsworth’s model for teacher professional growth was also used to categorise the studies according to their aims and outcomes. Exemplar studies in each category are highlighted. In total, 44 recent studies were selected, all referring to science PD. The results show an increase in the number of PD studies in science education in recent years. Most PD programmes are aimed at enhancing teacher cognitions as well as classroom practice. Most recently, there seems to have been an increase in programmes that also aim at improving student outcomes through PD. All studies applied most of the characteristics drawn from research on what makes PD effective. However, school organisational conditions were not usually taken into account. Moreover, there has been a very little research on the role of facilitators and their impact on the outcomes of a PD programme.

Impact of a national programme of professional development in science education

Evaluation of large‐scale professional development programmes in a cost‐effective but detailed manner presents challenges. Much of the research evidence on the effectiveness of professional development in science education has been the result of small‐scale studies that use clustered or stratified sampling methods. Using the evidence collected from the national Network of 10 Science Learning Centres in the UK, this research examines the nature and extent of change on a national scale from large numbers of teachers’ involvement in professional development courses. The network administers a common system of ‘embedded evaluation’, which integrates completion of evaluation forms in the training process, thus making a cross‐network study of impact possible. The research employed a triangulated approach of analysis of reported impact from different sources including impact toolkit forms, interviews with participants, a survey of their line managers and evidence from course leaders. The research shows that besides the direct impact on teachers’ own classroom practice, there is evidence of wider change involving other teachers and on whole school practice. Use of an evaluation toolkit embedded in the professional development course is regarded as a key process in supporting change and monitoring progress.

Rural Research Brief by Larry G. Enochs: Vertical Teaming: K-12 Teachers Engaged in Scientific Research in Rural Settings

Improving the knowledge and skills of practicing K-12 science teachers is our challenge. By doing so, teachers bring a renewed understanding and excitement for science to classrooms and can pass along their enhanced skills and growing expertise to their K-12 students. yet, many K-12 teachers, particularly those in rural areas, find themselves isolated from other scientists and science educators and often have scares resources for experiments and other classroom activities. . . . .This study explores the outcomes of a form of experiential professional development in science education for rural educators that involved teachers working in multi-grade level teams on field based practice science projects with scientists.

Measuring Teachers’ Learning from a Problem-Based Learning Approach to Professional Development in Science Education

In this study we measured changes in science teachers’ conceptual science understanding (content knowledge) and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) while participating in a problem-based learning (PBL) model of professional development. Teachers participated in a two-week long workshop followed by nine monthly meetings during one academic year that focused on deepening their content understanding and their teaching practices. We analyzed teachers’ short writings and concept map depictions of their understanding, and found teachers significantly developed components of pedagogical content knowledge and clinical reasoning, such as knowledge of assessment. Gains on conceptual understanding of science, however, were limited to one group of teachers. We conclude that this PBL approach to professional development advanced components of science teachers’ strategic pedagogical content knowledge and discuss the ongoing challenges in measuring changes in teachers’ understanding in the context of an evolving PBL model of professional development.

La communauté d'apprentissage en réponse aux besoins de développement professionnel des enseignants en sciences et technologie / The learning community : a response to the needs of teachers' professional development in science education

The learning community : a response to the needs of teachers' professional development in science education . Science education in Canada requires immediate attention from school educators (Hodson, 1998, 2000). Francophone students coming from Ontario schools show lower performance than their majority Anglophone counterparts at national testing level (CMEC, 2004). An exploratory study about the needs of 40 teachers in elementary schools revealed time and training as priorities for professional development. The learning community is the model proposed to help teachers fill the gap of their training in science and technology in order to improve science education in the context of minority schools of Ontario.

Using sunshine for elementary space science education: A model for IHY scientist–teacher partnerships

An elementary science education professional development partnership between Culver City Unified School District teachers and UCLA has been formed. The project was designed to assist teachers to comfortably present introductory space science concepts, to support them in their efforts, and to aid them in encouraging their students to develop inquiry skills related to space sciences. The project encourages teacher use of observational science techniques in their classrooms, the use of NASA solar mission images and enhanced use of astronomical observation to facilitate discovery learning. The integrated approach of the project has fostered collegial learning activities among the participating teachers and offered them opportunities for continued renewal and professional development of teacher competencies in astronomy and space science. The activities used in the classroom were developed by others, classroom tested, and specifically address National Science Education and California Science Content Standards. These activities have been sustained through on-going collaboration between the scientist and the teachers, a summer Research Experience for Teachers program, and on-going, grade-specific, district-sponsored workshops. Assessment of the value of the program is done by the school district and is used to continuously improve each workshop and program component. Culver City (California) Unified School District is a small urban school district located on the Westside of Los Angeles. This paper describes the program and the plans for incorporating IHY-themed science into the classroom.

An Observational and Planning Tool for Professional Development in Science Education

Since there is an increasing recognition to address the need to move practicing teachers to a higher standard of practice, mentoring or coaching has been receiving increasing attention. A variety of tools has been developed to make these relationships more effective. Work within a recent mentor project indicated current tools were not detailed enough for mentors to provide effective feedback to mentees. This paper presents a more detailed tool and describes categories of pedagogical practices related to an extended inquiry-cycle model. During the course of the project, mentors and mentees also used this tool for adapting existing curriculum to a more standards-based mode of instruction, thus having it function as a planning tool.

Academic and informal science education practitioner views about professional development in science education

AbstractThis study documents the views of effective professional development held by eight professional development (PD) providers, representing four informal science institutions (ISI) and four programs within two institutions of higher education (IHE) in a large midwestern metropolitan area in the United States. This study finds that, while the reported learning and outcome agendas of the providers were similar across the board, a dichotomy in approach to PD emerged according to the type of institution. This dichotomy between ISI and IHE was persistent across thematic categories: (1) language use and meaning, (2) teacher outcomes as a result of PD, (3) resource strengths for teaching and learning, and (4) determination of content and course offerings. The significance of this research is threefold. First, the identification and characterization of important features of teacher PD in ISI is an important contribution to the PD literature, since most previous studies focus on IHE. Second, this study elucidates important differences between the two types of providers with respect to their views of inquiry, currently a fundamental component of PD for science teachers. Third, previously unreported gaps and overlaps in belief systems of PD from two institutions types, ISI and IHE, are identified. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 91:604–628, 2007