This study examined the effects of science and engineering (S & E) inquiry on preschool and kindergarten children's academic outcomes using a randomized control-group design. Participants were divided into three groups: a classroom-only group (C-only) receiving NGSS-aligned S & E inquiry; a classroom plus family engagement group (C + F)…

This study investigated the effects of professional learning communities (PLCs) on teacher commitment in China. A total of 1020 teachers in Shanghai participated in a survey. The results show the organisational characteristics of PLCs which comprise supportive leadership, organisational structure and cultural barriers, had significant and positive…

Program surveys of over 2,000 novice teachers and 1,000 of their reflective coaches are analyzed to explore the impact of induction, generally, and coaching, specifically, on two program outcomes. Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling, we find that certain induction structures, aspects of coaching activities, and teacher-coach match…

Inquiry-based methods have become very popular in science education all over the world. In Europe, they were strongly advocated in years 2007-2013 within the 7th EU Framework Programme projects, and in that time, in many countries teacher educational programmes (TEP) in inquiry were developed and implemented. However, there has been limited…

Although continuous professional development (CPD) is a key strategy for physical education (PE) teachers to update skills and knowledge in order to provide the best possible education to students, various concerns have been voiced regarding the effectiveness and feasibility of CPD in the context of PE. One approach to CPD that seems promising in…

While there has been an increased focus on inquiry-based learning in teacher preparation programs, little is known about the influences of these programs on teacher development over time. Using activity theory as its theoretical framework, the researcher employed a longitudinal interpretative case study design to examine the development of three…

The study aimed to investigate the effect of project supervision training offered to Biology teachers on their views of the nature of scientific inquiry. We employed an action research design, as one of the qualitative research methods in this study. The participants were composed of 39 Biology teachers who had attended training on project…

Research in the field of professional development (PD) stresses the importance of the development of professional learning communities (PLCs) designed to promote the process of inquiry in teaching. PLCs are of great importance with regard to both school improvement and in-service teacher training. This article shows that it is possible to teach…

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…

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a professional development program on the use of a STEM-based 5E Inquiry Learning Model in enhancing the learning of STEM-based Inquiry Learning Model among 78 in- and pre-service science teachers. The topic electric circuit was used as the context of the study. Given the aim and the exploratory…

A year of COVID-19 quarantine required educators to switch from in-person to virtual learning platforms, causing a dramatic reimagining of their daily praxis. Their experiences are likely to influence new norms for K-12 education. While virtual learning can be effective, student engagement, student retention, and student attention can be…

Agriscience teachers help support the mission of the American Floral Endowment to inspire people to pursue careers working with plants by providing curricula related to ornamental horticulture. Nevertheless, an overall understanding of how the horticulture industry is connected to the studies of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics…

There is growing enthusiasm for STEAM education in preparing students for an increasingly complex world. However, implementing STEAM in the classroom can be challenging for educators, as it may require collaboration across disciplines, increased workload, and understanding the nature of STEAM integration. This paper details a mixed-methods…

Transformative teacher education can support educational experiences which provide the opportunity for pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to contribute towards tackling the significant sustainability issues with which we are faced. It is argued that for professional development programmes to be effective they need to improve…

Given the widespread adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards in the United States, there is a need to study new models of professional development to prepare teachers to enact practice-based visions of science learning and to address problems of access to reach teachers nationwide. While studies of online professional development offer…