Teacher Professional Development and Pedagogy | STELAR

Impact of After-School Teaching on Elementary Science Preservice Preparation

Publications

This qualitative study examines data from eight elementary preservice teachers who transitioned into student teaching after participating in an alternative science methods course that included teaching afterschool science to elementary grade students. These eight participants had a chance to practice teaching inquiry-based science and reform their own thoughts about science teaching and learning through an 8-week afterschool science program situated within their elementary science methods course. Data was collected through observations, reflections, and participant interviews over an academic

Elementary Pre-Service Teachers' Response-Shift Bias: Self-Efficacy and Attitudes Toward Science

Publications

Response-shift bias occurs when participants' initial constructs, such as self-efficacy in teaching science, are incomplete because they do not fully conceptualize something they have yet to experience. This study examines whether elementary pre-service teachers can consistently evaluate constructs such as self-efficacy and attitudes toward science throughout an elementary methods course. After the administration of traditional pre-tests, retrospective pre-tests, and post-tests, this study examined whether a response-shift bias consistently occurred in scales indicating science teaching self

DIVE In!

Curricular Materials

The inspiration for d.loft STEM (also known as ITEST project Design Loft STEM Learning Program) is the "Design for the Other 90% Movement,” which consists of engineers, designers, scientists, technologists, architects, and mathematicians engaged in designing low-cost innovative solutions for large portion of the world’s population who do not have access to basic services and products. Design Thinking is an approach to learning that builds students' creative confidence. DIVE In! is a middle school curriculum that integrates STEM learning activities and the design thinking process. Inspired by

Design, Engineering & Technology (DET) Survey

Instruments

The Design, Engineering and Technology (DET) Survey was developed to assess K-12 teachers’ perceptions of engineering and their familiarity with teaching design, engineering and technology. The survey consists of 40 self-report items answered through a 4-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=agree, and 4 = strongly agree). The items measure four factors: importance of DET (19 items), familiarity with DET (8 items), stereotypical characteristics of engineers (7 items) and barriers in integrating DET (6 items). The ASSESS Engineering Education link provides access to information

2012 National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education: Science Teacher Questionnaire

Instruments

2012 National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education: Science Teacher Questionnaire solicits information regarding K-12 science teachers' opinions, their preparation, and their teacher practice. The questionnaire was developed and administered to a nationally representative sample of science teachers as part of the 2012 National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education. All of the participating teachers answered a core set of items (about 25-30 minutes of survey time). In addition, teachers were randomly assigned to one of two sets of additional items, Matrix A or Matrix B (about 10-15

Science Teachers’ Pedagogical Discontentment Scale

Instruments

The Science Teachers' Pedagogical Discontentment Scale is an instrument that measures the discontentment that arises in teachers as they recognize a mismatch between their own pedagogical beliefs and goals and their actual classroom practices. This instrument can be used to measure teachers’ pedagogical discontentment, an instrument that will allow science educators to better describe the affective states of teachers as they enter professional development experiences. The items for the initial instrument were derived from a series of interviews with practicing teachers; from these interviews

School Observation Measure (SOM)

Instruments

Structured observations have been conducted by researchers across the United States for several years using the Classroom Observation Measure, developed and validated by researchers at the Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP) (Ross et al, 1991). Overall observation items from that instrument were modified to create the School Observation Measure (SOM), which represents a summary of ten 15-minute observations conducted in a single day. Multiple observations using the SOM allow researchers to determine the extent to which different common and alternative instructional practices are

Role Model Videos

Publications

Through these role model videos, professionals' real world views and application of math show high school students just how relevant math is to their futures. Filmed on location, professionals tell students about how they use math in their careers and what math meant to them in high school. The role model videos are an important aspect of the"Scaling Up STEM Learning with the VCL" model. Teacher participants in this ITEST project were required to screen videos from this resource and engage their students in discussion about real world use of math and potential interest in STEM occupations. The

Freedom Machines

Publications

The Freedom Machines film, discussion guide, lesson plan, and resource guides are designed to dramatically broaden the concept of diversity for all students through telling the intimate stories of adults and children with disabilities who are using modern technologies to change their lives. Original Freedom Machines website

A Learner-Centered Design Method for Educational Technology

Publications

This paper aims to share EDC’s learnings from developing and implementing this method including addressing issues of trust between youth and adult team members, appropriately acknowledging youth contributions, balancing the roles of mentors and adult design partners, and making dynamic curriculum adjustments based on participants learning styles and skill levels.

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