The Impact of a Professional Development Programme on Primary Teachers’ Classroom Practice and Pupils’ Attitudes to Science

被引:0
作者
Greg Smith
机构
[1] St Patrick’s College,Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Teaching and Learning (CASTeL)
来源
Research in Science Education | 2015年 / 45卷
关键词
Primary science; Pupils’ attitudes; Teachers’ instructional practice; Professional development;
D O I
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中图分类号
学科分类号
摘要
This study investigates the relationship, if any, between teacher participation in a targeted professional development programme and changes in participants’ instructional practice and their pupils’ attitudes to learning primary science. The programme took place over a 2-year period in 15 small rural schools in the West of Ireland. Data sources include teacher and pupil questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and informal classroom observations. The findings reveal that as a result of their involvement in the programme, (a) teachers’ instructional practice in science lessons became more inquiry-based and they were engaging their pupils in substantially more hands-on activities in science lessons and (b) pupils developed more positive attitudes towards learning science. The findings from this study add to what is known about delivering effective professional development.
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页码:215 / 239
页数:24
相关论文
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