scholarly journals PARTNERSHIPS: A SYSTEMIC STUDY OF TWO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS WITH UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND K-12 TEACHERS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-38
Author(s):  
Andrea C. Burrows
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Perception ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Systemic Nature ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Academic Year

While it can take different forms, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) K-12 teacher professional development (PD) is important around the world. Though all stakeholders play critical roles in PDs, the author focuses on the larger system that supports the PDs. As such, this research study focuses on the PD results, but also on the explanation of the systemic nature of the PDs studied. Partnerships, including building of relationships, are explored in that system. In this mixed methods study of two K-12 teacher PDs (n=31 and 19 total PD days), conducted in the western United States, the author utilizes quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to reinforce quality PD practices and suggested strategies. Results indicate that 90% of the K-12 teachers were highly engaged in the STEM content and partnership building. Pre to post K-12 teacher perception scores regarding astronomy use in STEM content courses showed noteworthy improvement from 16% to 84%. Furthermore, K-12 teacher perceptions regarding creation of partnerships and collaborations rose from 26% to 90%. Other findings showcase themes of reflection, collaboration, STEM integration, and inquiry as well as a need for partnership building time. Overall, when the K-12 teachers worked together in a structured PD over an academic year (2014-2015) for a selection of 19 days (13 summer days and 6 Saturdays during the academic year) partnerships were formed and provided added organization for the PD system. Faculty/PD team communications and continuous K-12 teacher support were also critical factors for systemic PD success. Access to K-12 teacher created lesson plans that use astronomy as a vehicle for STEM lessons can be accessed free of charge at the following websites: http://physics.uwyo.edu/~mike/workshop/index.html and http://www.physics.uwyo.edu/~aschwortz/LASSI/ Key words: teacher professional development, systemic nature, partnership, reflection, inquiry.

scholarly journals Teacher Perceptions of Training and Pedagogical Value of Cross-Reality and Sensor Data from Smart Buildings

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Shawn Rowe ◽  
Mariapaola Riggio ◽  
Raffaele De Amicis ◽  
Susan R. Rowe
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
After School ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
K 12

This paper discusses elementary, and secondary (K-12) teachers’ perceptions of cross-reality (XR) tools for data visualization and use of sensor data from the built environment in classroom curricula. Our objective was to explore the use of sensor-informed XR in the built environment and civil engineering (BECE) field to support K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experiential learning and foster BECE-related career awareness. We conducted surveys and informal questionnaires with 33 primary and secondary teachers attending an annual two-day university-based teacher professional development workshop as part of a statewide STEM afterschool program serving students in rural communities. We assessed teachers’ familiarity with, knowledge about, and appraisal of using cross-reality platforms and sensor data in classrooms and after school curricula. Findings show that, while all teachers reported relatively high interest in learning about sensor applications and innovative interactive techniques, middle school teachers in particular were most likely to see value in using these applications for teaching and learning. Implications for teacher professional development are discussed.

STEAM Pedagogy as an Approach for Teacher Professional Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 28-33
Author(s):  
Sanjaya Kumar Pant ◽  
Bal Chandra Luitel ◽  
Binod Prasad Pant
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Real World ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Training Module ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
And Training ◽  
Real World Problems

The ongoing in-service teacher learning or formal teacher professional development (TPD) is too conventional and de-escalating as the disciplinary skills and knowledge of teacher is insufficient to solve real world problems which are multi-disciplinary in origin. Thus, there is a critical need to explore and introduce multidisciplinary pedagogy with wise integration of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) concepts as an approach for TPD. This paper aims to explore the possible approaches of introducing STEAM pedagogy as an approach for TPD. This argumentative paper is prepared with the help of relevant and useful literatures. We argue the urgent need to integrate arts and technology in subject disciplines and design STEAM projects and training module as a neo-approach for TPD. This approach is equally useful for pre-service as well as in-service school teachers to develop multidisciplinary ways of knowing and solving real world problems.

scholarly journals Online Professional Learning in Response to COVID-19—Towards Robust Evaluation

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Alireza Ahadi ◽  
Matt Bower ◽  
Abhay Singh ◽  
Michael Garrett
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
Online Mode ◽  
Evaluation Models ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Workshop Evaluation

As COVID-19 continues to impact upon education worldwide, systems and organizations are rapidly transiting their professional learning to online mode. This raises concerns, not simply about whether online professional learning can result in equivalent outcomes to face-to-face learning, but more importantly about how to best evaluate online professional learning so we can iteratively improve our approaches. This case study analyses the evaluation of an online teacher professional development workshop for the purpose of critically reflecting upon the efficacy of workshop evaluation techniques. The evaluation approach was theoretically based in a synthesis of six seminal workshop evaluation models, and structured around eight critical dimensions of educational technology evaluation. The approach involving collection of pre-workshop participant background information, pre-/post-teacher perceptions data, and post-workshop focus group perceptions, enabled the changes in teacher knowledge, skills, and beliefs to be objectively evaluated, at the same time as providing qualitative information to effectively improve future iterations of the workshops along a broad range of dimensions. The evaluation approach demonstrated that the professional learning that was shifted into online mode in response to COVID-19 could unequivocally result in significant improvements to professional learning outcomes. More importantly, the evaluation approach is critically contrasted with previous evaluation models, and a series of recommendations for the evaluation of technology-enhanced teacher professional development workshops are proposed.

Blended Learning and Professional Development in the K-12 Sector

2011 ◽  
pp. 182-202
Author(s):  
Suzanne Riverin
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Support Teacher ◽  
Education Network ◽  
K 12

This chapter examines the use of blended learning in an online community which supported teacher professional development in the province of Ontario, Canada for ten years. The online network which was called The Education Network of Ontario/ Le Réseau éducatif de l’Ontario (ENO/REO) used a blend of tools and some face-to-face opportunities to support teacher professional development across the province. Teachers were encouraged to use the ENO/REO environment to join in discussions, create and maintain online projects and share research and curriculum resources. The chapter will focus on a study which examined the effect of long term participation in such a community in order to provide insight into the use of blended learning in online communities for professional development.

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