In-Service Education of Science Teachers: Virtual Simulators as a Resource for Experimental Work

Monogr??fico con el t??tulo: " Formaci??n de profesores. Perspectivas de Brasil, Colombia, Espa??a y Portugal"

THE MAPPING IN THE CONTINUING EDUCATION OF TEACHERS: AN EXPERIENCE THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING

In this work, we show the experience of continuing teacher education in Cartography in the period from 03/11/2009 to 03/11/2010, it was held by the Center for Continuing Education in Mathematics Education, Science and Environment (CECEMCA) - UNESP - Rio Claro, in DL (Distance Learning). This experience was through the extension course set in TelEduc platform. The course was titled Introduction to Cartography and aimed primarily: Present concepts of systematic and thematic mapping and its potential application in teaching practices, increase knowledge in the areas of Geography, Cartography and Environment; Offer alternatives for implementing content mapping in the classroom.

The continuing decline of science and mathematics enrolments in Australian high schools

Is there a crisis in Australian science and mathematics education? Declining enrolments in upper secondary Science and Mathematics courses have gained much attention from the media, politicians and high-profile scientists over the last few years, yet there is no consensus amongst stakeholders about either the nature or the magnitude of the changes. We have collected raw enrolment data from the education departments of each of the Australian states and territories from 1992 to 2012 and analysed the trends for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, two composite subject groups (Earth Sciences and Multidisciplinary Sciences), as well as entry, intermediate and advanced Mathematics. The results of these analyses are discussed in terms of participation rates, raw enrolments and gender balance. We have found that the total number of students in Year 12 increased by around 16% from 1992 to 2012 while the participation rates for most Science and Mathematics subjects, as a proportion of the total Year 12 cohort, fell (Biology (-10%), Chemistry (-5%), Physics (-7%), Multidisciplinary Science (-5%), intermediate Mathematics (-11%), advanced Mathematics (-7%) in the same period. There were increased participation rates in Earth Sciences (+0.3%) and entry Mathematics (+11%). In each case the greatest rates of change occurred prior to 2001 and have been slower and steadier since. We propose that the broadening of curriculum offerings, further driven by students' self-perception of ability and perceptions of subject difficulty and usefulness, are the most likely cause of the changes in participation. While these continuing declines may not amount to a crisis, there is undoubtedly serious cause for concern.

Research in the clinical setting : a qualitative study of the value of play research in the continuing education of occupational therapists.

Occupational therapists have always recognized playas an important part of a child's life. However, until recently play has been viewed as a medium for reaching treatment goals, rather than as an activity that is valuable in and of itself. If occupational therapists think of playas the primary activity or occupation of childhood, then play should be a very important area of focus for paediatric clinicians. In order to assist children to become as independent as possible with play and to have fulfilling play experiences the occupational therapist needs to have a clear understanding of how to assess, set goals which lead towards competence in play, and promote play. Recent play literature has placed importance on play behaviours and looking at the relationship between the child and both the human and nonhuman environment. Believing that play and playfulness can and should be promoted, for children with physical disabilities, requires that therapists learn new assessment and intervention strategies. A new assessment tool, The Test of Playfulness, was developed by Bundy in 1994. It addressed play behaviours and environmental influences. The author, a co-investigator and eight occupational therapists were involved in a playfulness study using this test to compare the playfulness of children with physical disabilities with their able-bodied peers. After the study was completed the author questioned whether or not involvement in the playfulness study was enough of a change agent to bring about transformative learning in order to further the eight occupational therapists' education about play.This study investigated changes in either the therapists' thinking about play or their behaviour in their clinical practice. The study also examined the participants' retention of knowledge about the Test of Playfulness. The eight therapists who had been involved in the playfulness study (participants) were matched with eight therapists who had not been involved (nonparticipants). The therapists were interviewed 9 to 12 months after completion of the playfulness study. They were asked to describe various scenarios of play and open ended prompts were used to elicit the therapists' perceptions of play, good play, the role or value of play, environmental and gender influences on play, play assessment and intervention, and play research, for children with and without disabilities. The participants were also prompted to discuss their experience with the playfulness study. A self-report questionnaire was also completed at the end of the interview. The results of the study demonstrated that: (a) the play research project was a good format for continuing the participants' education about play; (b) their thinking had changed about play; (c) according to self report, they had used this new knowledge in their clinical practice; and (d) the participants remembered the items on the Test of Playfulness and could use them in describing various aspects of play. This study found that participating in a play research project had been an effective method of professional development. It also highlighted the need for increased awareness of the recent literature on play and the developing role of the occupational therapist in the assessment and intervention of play.

Research in the clinical setting : a qualitative study of the value of play research in the continuing education of occupational therapists.

Occupational therapists have always recognized playas an important part of a child's life. However, until recently play has been viewed as a medium for reaching treatment goals, rather than as an activity that is valuable in and of itself. If occupational therapists think of playas the primary activity or occupation of childhood, then play should be a very important area of focus for paediatric clinicians. In order to assist children to become as independent as possible with play and to have fulfilling play experiences the occupational therapist needs to have a clear understanding of how to assess, set goals which lead towards competence in play, and promote play. Recent play literature has placed importance on play behaviours and looking at the relationship between the child and both the human and nonhuman environment. Believing that play and playfulness can and should be promoted, for children with physical disabilities, requires that therapists learn new assessment and intervention strategies. A new assessment tool, The Test of Playfulness, was developed by Bundy in 1994. It addressed play behaviours and environmental influences. The author, a co-investigator and eight occupational therapists were involved in a playfulness study using this test to compare the playfulness of children with physical disabilities with their able-bodied peers. After the study was completed the author questioned whether or not involvement in the playfulness study was enough of a change agent to bring about transformative learning in order to further the eight occupational therapists' education about play.

Center for the Continuing Education of Women scholarship winners, 1971

Caption in Michigan Alumnus: Nine women, selected from among 272 applicants, have received $1,500 merit scholarships from the University's Center for the Continuing Education of Women. Seven of the nine are pictured here. Seated (left to right) are Marilyn Leese, Jane Wolfe, Carol Taylor, Susan Stokes and Kay Bauman. Standing (left to right) are Edith Withey and Carolyn Houser.

A abordagem de questões sociocientíficas na formação continuada de professores de ciências: contribuições e dificuldades

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Formação docente & Centro de Ciências: estudo sobre uma experiência de formação continuada de professores de química

Pós-graduação em Educação para a Ciência - FC

Física no ensino fundamental: formação continuada de professores de Ciências em uma perspectiva sócio-histórica

Pós-graduação em Educação para a Ciência - FC

Atividades práticas no ensino de ciências: saberes docentes e formação do professor

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Formação de professores de ciências: reflexões sobre a formação continuada

This article reflects on the continuing education of science teachers and, for that, it was conducted a documental analysis of the Law of Guidelines and Bases of Educations (Law No. 9394/96) and a bibliographical research to make a survey and a study about the authors with recognized contribution in this area, focusing on the following items (i) aspects of legislation and public policies for the continuing education on Basic Education teachers; (ii) teaching knowledge needed in their professional training; and (iii) continuing education of science teachers. It was concluded that teachers’ professional development should happen through institutional continuing education, guided by a work plan, so that they can effectively develop their as mediators between the students' interaction with the information obtained, so that the teaching-learning process can happen and consistent scientific knowledge can be constructed by students.

If teams are so good.. : science teachers' conceptions of teams and teamwork

The focus of this study is the phenomenon of teams and teamwork. Currently the Professional Standards of Queensland’s teachers state that teams are critical to teachers’ work. This study uses a phenomenographic approach to investigate science teachers’ conceptions of teams and teamwork in the science departments of fifteen Queensland State secondary schools. The research identifies eight conceptions of teams and teamwork. The research findings suggest that the team represents a collective of science teachers bounded by the Science Department and their current timetabled subject. Collaboration was found in the study to be an activity that occurred between teachers in the same social space. The research recognises a new category of relationship between teachers, designated as ‘ask-and-receive’. The research identifies a lack of teamwork within the science department and the school. There appears to be no teaming with other subject departments. The research findings highlight the non-supportive team and teamwork policies, procedures and structures in the schools and identify the lack of recognition of the specialised skills of science teachers. The implications for the schools and science teachers are considerable, as the current Professional Standards of Education Queensland and the Queensland College of Teachers provide benchmarks of knowledge and practice of teams and teamwork for teachers. The research suggests that the professional standards relating to teams and teamwork cannot be achieved in the present school environment.

Redesigning science teacher education to reflect the nature of contemporary science

Evidence that many students are not being captivated by school science has led to advocacy of revising the science curriculum. However, there need to be accompanying changes in science teacher education. This study is designed to lay foundations for innovation in the pre-service education of secondary science teachers, involving a reconceptualisation of the nature of contemporary science and a course structure that links science teaching with broader science public reform initiatives. We held a series of Focus Groups, built around Government Research Priority areas, which brought together people from industry, government, research organisations, and community groups involved in science and its applications. In the groups the participants discussed how science currently operates in their area, ways in which the area will develop in the coming decade, and what implications there are for the nation and its citizens and for science education. What emerged was a concern for public responses to science at a range of levels, and a very different view of science practice and community involvement with science to that represented in current university and school science courses. This was confirmed in interviews with science graduates working in disparate fields, and also focus groups of school students. The paper will report on the insights generated, and explore the implications for redesigning the pre-service education of science teachers.

The education of the science teacher; a report of the Subcommittee on Teacher Education,

Mode of access: Internet.

E-Learning and Continuing Education in LIS

The aim of the study was to investigate the relevance of e—learning in continuing education of library professionals in the universities in Kerala. /55 part of a survey of library professionals in the seven major Universities in Kerala to find their continuing education needs, it was found that majority of the library professionals attend continuing education programmes (CEP) to be trained in the latest technologies. Internet resources were the preferred mode of information source by 38.9 per cent of the library professionals. The importance of continuing education in developing the competencies of library professionals is also stressed