Determining the effects of a professional development program on teachers' inquiry knowledge and classroom action: A case study of a professional development strategy

Cheryl A Bell, Purdue University

Abstract

Science teaching and learning has been the focus of reform efforts for many years. The most recent efforts call for change in the way science is taught and the way students learn science in our nation's classrooms, with an effort to move toward an inquiry-based approach. These efforts present challenges for today's teachers. Many teachers want to do an effective job of teaching science, yet are not sure of what inquiry teaching should look like in the classroom or what they need to change to move toward inquiry-based instruction. The problem posed for the educational community is to identify means to provide teachers with the experiences they need to develop the knowledge and techniques necessary to teach using an inquiry approach in their classrooms. This research addressed this problem by developing a case study of a professional development program designed to enhance the inquiry knowledge and inquiry-based teaching of middle level teachers through the development of leadership teams and peer training. Teachers participated at one of two levels: Level I received intense training at a major university; and Level II received their training from their Level I teammates. Two teams of teachers participated in this research, involving five teachers. The program's effectiveness varied in the changes evident in the teachers' knowledge and use of inquiry in their classrooms. The Level I teachers' knowledge and use of inquiry was influenced by their interpretations of their experiences and how these related to what occurred in their classrooms prior to the institute. Similarly, their interpretation influenced the emphasis placed on including information about inquiry and involving their Level II teammates in inquiry-based instructional experiences during the peer-training sessions. The peer-training session for Team 1 provided a stimulus for the Level II teacher to reflect on her teaching and her students' questions and, consequently, change the level of inquiry in her classroom. The level of inquiry incorporated into the peer-training session for Team 2 directly influenced the elements and level of inquiry used in the two Level II teachers' classrooms. Overall, all teachers incorporated more student-centered elements of inquiry following the program.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Rivers, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Teacher education|Science education

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