Teachers’ professional development in Nanoscience and nanotechnology in the context of a Community of Learners

ABSTRACT

This case study focuses on teachers’ professional development in NanoScience and nanoTechnology (NST). In the context of a Community of Learners (CoL), in-service teachers in collaboration with science education researchers, nanoscience researchers and experts from science museums, developed a teaching module. This module integrates NST topics along with aspects of science communication, i.e. development of science exhibits and socio-scientific issues, e.g. ethics regarding the research in this field. The data were gathered over 1-year period by using video recordings and interviews. The Interconnected Model of Professional Growth was used to study the processes that support teachers’ professional change in this context, as they are elicited from their interactions in the CoL. Our findings indicate that the dynamic of teachers’ interactions with colleagues and the mediating processes that impact on their professional learning, are crafted on the basis of the emerged challenges in each phase of module’s design and development. These findings give an insight on teachers’ professional learning as they transfer their professional knowledge regarding scientific topics which are innovative to them, i.e. NST, into their teaching practice. In this respect, this study contributes to research literature relevant to teachers’ professionalisation in order to implement innovations in the classroom.     

Support for EE From the National Science Education Standards and the Internet

Abstract

Two recent developments are likely to have a significant impact on the future of EE: (1) education reform initiatives based on the National Science Education Standards and (2) the development of promising Internet resources for teaching environmental sciences. This article urges the EE community to recognize that the time is ripe for environmental educators to embrace these developments. We examine several Internet-based resources that are used as tools for implementing standards-based reforms and promotion of EE's goals in K-12 classrooms.     

美国基础教育理科教科书评价标准及其启示

美国的基础教育教科书评价研究起步较早,发展至今已相对成熟且系统化。与其地方分权的教育管理体制相适应,美国既有跨州的"2061计划"教科书评价标准,也有各州在此基础上制定的本州教科书评价标准,这些标准的研制理念与现代教育评价理论一致,很好地体现了对教科书价值的判定,并使教科书的价值得以量化并外显出来,对我国教科书评价研究及标准的制定具有借鉴和参考意义。     

Persistence and Motivation

Summary

This case study examines a new teacher's beliefs and perceptions about how and why technology can and should be used to support student learning. A middle school science teacher reflected upon her preparation for and applications of technology in her classroom. Data were generated through e-mail exchanges over the course of several months. Qualitative analysis identified themes including a nontechnology focus, expectations, rationale, impact, and beliefs and learned lessons. Findings suggest that for this teacher persistence was critical to learning in absence of pre-service or in-service learning opportunities in the effective application of technology to support learning. It is recommended that technology-oriented staff development incorporate theory, guidelines, models, and illustrations for effective and meaningful applications.     

‘RE teachers do get drunk you know’: becoming a religious education teacher in the twenty-first century

In terms of the attention that they have attracted from researchers, and in comparison with teachers of other subjects, religious education specialists would seem to be a neglected and marginalized group. This paper looks at some of the reasons why this might be and also describes a study that is using a life history approach to explore what it is like to be a religious education teacher at the turn of the millennium.     

美国K-12阶段学校体育的发展及其启示

K-12阶段的学校体育是美国国民体育的基石,它主要在美国健康、体育、休闲与舞蹈协会和国家竞技与体育协会这两个专业机构的引领下获得发展。20世纪50年代以来,美国K-12阶段学校体育的发展时有起伏,并呈现出"钟摆式"的运动轨迹。其发展过程对于推动中国学校体育事业的发展有一定启示。     

技术支持的基于创造的学习——美国中小学创客教育的内涵、特征与实施路径

近年,技术的快速发展、制造材料的不断丰富及应用成本的逐渐降低,为人们自己动手设计、制作与创造产品提供了更多可能,也推动了美国"创客行动"的兴起与发展。自2013年以来,美国越来越多的中小学开始加入"创客行动",实施"创客教育",将"基于创造的学习(Learning by Making)"视作学生真正需要的学习方式。本研究通过对美国中小学实施创客教育的理论研究成果及实践案例的分析,旨在对美国中小学创客教育的内涵、特征与实施路径进行梳理与总结。研究表明:美国中小学"创客教育"认为"基于创造的学习"是人类最基本的学习方式,创造是学习的途径,创造的产品即学习成果;全人发展是创客教育的根本目标,主要通过学生全身心投入到独立或协同创造进程得以实现;技术支持对于创客教育不可或缺,同时技术产品又可成为创造的目标指向。教育目标、情境及资源的整合性,学习过程与教学方式的开放性,教育过程的专业化是美国中小学创客教育的三大关键特征。此外,美国中小学创客教育的实施主要依托于精心设计的创客项目,教师对学生创造过程的专业化指导,以及来自政策、资金、人力、物力等多维度的支持。     

对美国新一代《科学教育标准》的前瞻性分析——基于2011年美国《科学教育的框架》和1996年《国家科学教育标准》的对比

美国于2011年7月颁布的《k-12年级科学教育的框架:实践、交叉概念、以及核心观念》(以下简称《框架》)是其新一代科学教育标准开发的基础文件,本文介绍了其研制背景。并通过将《框架》的主体内容与美国1996年的《国家科学教育标准》的\"科学内容标准\"(以下简称《前标准》)进行对比,抽提出《框架》的特点。最后根据上述分析得出该文件对我国研制课程标准的启示。     

美国《科学教育框架》的特点及启示

《科学教育框架》提出了新阶段美国科学教育的发展愿景,反映出美国人才培养方案的新动向,在对科学的理解上,实现从\"探究\"到\"实践\"的跨越,在科学教育方面,体现从\"科学与技术\"到\"科学、技术与工程\"的整合,在学科教育内容方面,体现从科学\"概念\"到学科核心思想的提升。推进我国中小学科学教育,应提高中小学科学课程地位、重视中小学科学教育在人才培养系统中的启蒙性和基础性作用;注重中小学科学课程的统整性、综合性与实践性,适应社会发展需求;充分重视科学教育研究及其成果运用。