This study attempted to explore the relationship between elementary teacher candidates' conceptions of the nature of science and their consequent conceptions of teaching science. In order to measure patterns and trends in how elementary teacher candidates define the nature of science and the teaching of science, an open-ended qualitative…

This study was designed to investigate the effect on teachers and their students of a model of professional development that immerses teachers in scientific inquiry appropriate to their classrooms while modeling the use of reform-based pedagogical strategies for teaching science. The course was designed and team taught as a collaborative effort…

The purpose of this exploratory study was to describe the changes in middle school teachers' planning of science activities during a teacher enhancement project that involved problem-solving instruction and classroom implementation of a problem-solving curriculum model. The model reflected the cognitive science perspective and integrated the…

The purpose of this investigation was to identify the changes in (n=8) inservice teachers' conceptions or knowledge structures of mathematics and subject specific pedagogy as the teachers participated in a two-year pilot professional development program and began teaching middle school mathematics. Data collection consisted of a questionnaire,…

The term "teacher enhancement" is recent; however, its underlying goal--to improve, broaden, and deepen the disciplinary and pedagogical knowledge of elementary and secondary teachers employed in public schools--has been addressed by educators and educational policymakers in the past, usually through the mechanism of inservice training. This…

This document is a series of charts and diagrams for a presentation on values in staff development. The presentation focused on content--what teachers teach and what teachers want students to learn; process--how to make things happen, the means for acquiring new knowledge and skills; and context--the culture or framework in which teachers work.…

California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) College of Education implemented a Single Subject Credential Program (Secondary Program) in the Fall of 1995. The first part of this paper reviews the program's two-year developmental process, which includes the program's history, vision, and planning. The following areas were determined to be central…

This paper reports on part of a five-year research study on the implementation of new industrial chemistry case studies into the curriculum for students majoring in chemistry in Israeli high schools. The purpose of the study was to obtain information on teachers' formal education in industrial chemistry and their attitudes toward teaching this…

This teaching guide focuses on Arctic-nesting shorebirds. The format of each section consists of background information, student activities, observation and research ideas, and key words. Basic information on how to use this curriculum and seven sections devoted to different aspects of Arctic-nesting shorebird life are provided. Sections cover…

This study examines how teachers' frameworks for human development, curriculum, and mathematics influence how they interpret children's mathematical thinking. The teachers in the study were participants in a professional development project to help them implement cognitively-guided instruction (CGI) in their mathematics instruction. Data on…

This brief presents the case for the reform of assessment systems as an essential component of systemic reform. The scope includes ways to share conceptual understanding among all stakeholders in the educational system, ways to evaluate the impact of systemic reforms in terms of student attainment of relevant goals, and ideas on how assessment can…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between students' conceptions of the nature of science and their reactions to evidence that challenged their beliefs about socio-scientific issues. This study used 248 students from 9th and 10th grade general science classes, 11th and 12th grade honors biology, honors science, and…

The world is a dynamic environment driven by technology that challenges each individual in a unique way. No longer is the ability to read and write sufficient because technological change affects nearly every aspect of one's life from "enabling citizens to perform routine tasks to requiring that they are able to make responsible, informed…

Research on professional development has focused on elementary school teachers. This study is part of a larger study that investigates professional development strategies that support the growth of secondary teachers. Findings indicate that secondary teachers may need experiences that challenge them to re-examine their knowledge and identity…

Teachers' knowledge of mathematics is pivotal to their capacity to provide effective mathematics instruction and to their ability to assess student learning (Ball, Hill, & Bass, 2005; Ma, 1999; Schifter, 1999). The National Council for the Teaching of Mathematics (NCTM, 2000) makes it clear that teachers need knowledge of the whole domain as well…