NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ1477736
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Aug
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1059-0145
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1839
Available Date: 2025-03-04
Online Professional Development to Prepare Afterschool Educators to Teach an Elementary STEM Curriculum: Results of a Design and Evaluation Study
Christine Wusylko1; Kara Dawson1; Zhen Xu2; Pavlo Antonenko1; DoHyong Koh1
Journal of Science Education and Technology, v34 n4 p837-852 2025
Online professional development (OPD) is a popular professional learning option, especially for those with monetary and time constraints such as afterschool educators. This study reports on the design, implementation, and evaluation of an OPD on preparing 18 afterschool educators to teach a content-heavy, transmedia, STEM curriculum on cryptology and cybersecurity to 223 students. The design of our OPD is grounded in andragogy, incorporates OPD best practices, and uses a community of inquiry and online interaction framework. We evaluated the OPD on all four levels (reaction, learning, transfer, and results) of Kirkpatrick's ("Training and Development Journal", 1979) evaluation framework. Educators in general had positive reactions to the OPD, and while reporting they were comfortable with the content, still expressed the desire to review trickier concepts before implementing. When implementing, educators reported they retained content, but still struggled with difficult concepts. Eighteen educators completed the OPD with 17 implementing in their program. One hundred percent of educators who started the curriculum completed it with their students. Students' knowledge assessment scores significant increased (M[subscript]pre = 5.51, SD[subscript]pre = 1.79, M[subscript]post = 7.46, SD[subscript]pos t = 2.39, t = 9.07, df = 143, p < 0.001). Suggested strategies for designers of OPDs with similar curricular and program needs are included.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1849768
Author Affiliations: 1University of Florida, College of Education, Gainesville, USA; 2University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Education, Health, & Human Sciences, Knoxville, USA