STEAM Project-Based Learning Activities at the Science Museum as an Effective Training for Future Chemistry Teachers

Non-formal learning environments, such as science museums, have a fundamental role in science education and high potentialities as ideal contexts for science teachers’ training. These aspects have been analyzed and reported in several recent works mainly focused on students’ perception of science and increased engagement towards scientific disciplines. In this work, a project-based learning methodology optimized and experimented in the frame of a pre-service chemistry teachers’ course at the University of Pisa (Italy), during the last eight years, involving in total 171 participants, is presented. This educational project has several distinctive features related to the STEAM philosophy, with a high level of multi-disciplinarity and creativity. Most of the laboratories and chemistry-centered activities were conceived, planned and carried out by the future chemistry teachers in non-formal contexts, such as science museums. A case study based on a series of non-formal laboratories designed by a group of students during their training in the academic year 2018–2019 and performed in a science museum is reported and examined in details. In this paper, all steps of the STEAM project-based learning methodology are described underlining the main learning outcomes and cognitive levels involved in each step and the relevant methodologies proposed during the training course and adopted in the project. The effectiveness of this pre-service teachers’ training methodology is finally discussed in terms of participants’ motivation and interest towards the course’s content, students’ final judgment of their training experiences and, in particular, of the STEAM project-based learning activities. From the students’ feedbacks and final assessment, the role of the non-formal context in teaching and learning chemistry and the efficacy of developing educational activities related to current and real-life chemistry-centered topics emerged as very positive aspects of the proposed approach.

Higher education teachers' perception and use of Content Representations in lesson study

Purpose“Content Representations” (CoRes) is an instrument that links content with aspects about its teaching and is recognized for its utility designing lessons and elucidating teachers' knowledge. Lesson study (LS) is a practice through which teachers collaborate to plan, teach and reflect on a lesson. Both have been acknowledged separately as being valuable for teachers' training; however, there is little research addressing the consequences of combining them. This study filled in that gap by examining how higher education (HE) teachers used the CoRes and perceived its integration within LS.Design/methodology/approachThe authors performed a multiple case study with features of ethnomethodology and conducted an inductive content analysis of the data gathered through document analysis, in-depth semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The research was approved by the ethics committee of the host university, and participants were faculty members from different health sciences disciplines.FindingsThe authors found that participants considered that the use of the CoRes during LS allowed them to organize their ideas, consider more details for lesson design, address new topics and engage in greater reflection. However, participants (specially senior faculty) showed a superficial dedication to filling in the CoRes and considered the instrument bothersome, urging caution when engaging in the combined practice of CoRes and LS.Originality/valueThis is the first research in the international literature approaching the integration of the CoRes and LS with HE teachers. Its results fill a research gap and can help LS practitioners make an informed decision about whether to incorporate CoRes into it.

Building a Bridge for Inclusive Assessment of Newly-Arrived Migrants' Knowledge in Science and Mathematics

The Erasmus+/KA3 project Augmented Assessment “Assessing newly arrived migrants' knowledge in Science and Math using augmented teaching material” aims to address the gap that exists in assessing newly arrived migrant students' prior knowledge in the fields of science and mathematics caused by the linguistic obstacle between them and the teachers. To address this gap, the project will develop the Augmented Assessment Library as well as a teachers' training course focusing on inclusive assessment and augmented reality. The chapter outlines the theoretical orientations of the project (augmented assessment bridges) and discusses the elements that comprise them focusing on the connections among inclusive pedagogy, visual representations in science and math education, multimodality, and augmented reality. It also describes the pedagogical framework underpinning the design of the Augmented Assessment Training Course as well as the main innovation of the project which is the Augmented Assessment Library and its pedagogical value for assessment.

Reflective Teachers

This study sought to investigate the Indian trainee teachers’ perception of the 21st century skills, to what extent these skills were integrated into teacher education programs, and challenges to their integration. The study followed a mixed approach comprising of both quantitative (e. g. descriptive survey) and qualitative (e.g., interview) research methods taking 500 trainee teachers from 50 teachers’ training colleges using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Findings revealed that few skills were partially integrated while others were poorly integrated, significant differences were found in the ingestion of these skills between trainees of private and government teacher training colleges, and thereby, hampering the aim of making teachers reflective. The study also noted the challenges in integrating these skills that will provide a valuable reference for teacher education curriculum planning and implementation with a view of providing a holistic educational experience among trainee teachers across countries.

Saberes matemáticos na orientação de professores paranaenses: expertises e contribuições (1970-1980)

A pesquisa aqui apresentada, de caráter investigativo, aponta evidências presentes em documentos produzidos por professores paranaenses para responder a uma demanda de pesquisa manifesta das décadas de 1970 e 1980: como se apresentaram os saberes para ensinar matemática nas orientações para os professores do ensino de 1º Grau no estado do Paraná? Procurou-se responder à essa questão tomando por base a teoria e metodologia da história cultural, a leitura e análise de documentos como a Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação (1971), o Projeto HAPRONT (modelo curricular de formação de professores), “Revista Currículo” (PARANÁ, 1977; 1978; 1979) da SEC do PR, e a “Revista A voz da Escola” (PARANÁ, 1981) do IEP. A organização e abordagem das propostas educativas que fizeram parte do contexto de produção de manuais didáticos para a orientação de formação, tanto inicial quanto continuada de professores, tiveram a participação de educadores cuja expertise associou os saberes para ensinar às teorias educacionais e métodos de ensino em voga na educação brasileira, traduzindo as expectativas para o período em questão. A fundamentação teórico-metodológica da história cultural nas teorias de Julia, Chervel e Chartier deram sustento às argumentações aqui expostas.Mathematical knowledge in the teacher’s orientation of Paraná: expertises and contributions (1970-1980)The research presented here, of an investigative nature, points to evidence present in documents produced by teachers from Paraná to respond to a clear demand for research from the 1970s and 1980s: how was presented the knowledge for teaching mathematics in the guidelines for teachers of elementary school in the state of Paraná? We sought to answer this question based on the theory and methodology of cultural history, the reading and analysis of documents such as Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação (1971), the HAPRONT Project (curricular model for teacher education), “Curriculum magazine” (1977, 1978, 1979), from Education Secretary of Paraná, and “The voice of the school magazine” (1981) from Educational Institute of Paraná. The organization and approach of educational proposals that were part of the context of the production of textbooks to guide both initial and continuing teacher education had the participation of educators whose expertise associated the knowledge to teach with the educational theories end teaching methods in vogue in Brazilian education translating expectations for the period in question. The theoretical methodological foundation of cultural history in the theories of Julia, Chervel and Chartier supported the arguments presented here.Keywords: Education; Teachers’ training; Mathematics knowledge.

Second Teachers’ Training Workshop: Feedback of the Participant Faculty Members

INTRODUCTION: Teachers training is amongst the faculty development programs that facilitates in acquiring, and updating educational skills, thereby improving teaching learning practices. Universal College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) Bhairahawa, Nepal organized second teachers training workshop in September 8-13, 2019. The objective of this study was to seek the immediate reaction of the participant faculty members and assess it MATERIAL AND METHODS: The valid semi-structured questionnaire was used for taking feedback of the participants. The questionnaire was composed of four parts: A) demographic information, B) overall feedback on training workshop, C) feedback on specific group of sessions and D) Feedback regarding strengths, area for improvement, immediate impact and application in practice. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: The participants rated training on scale 1-10 (1=poor, 10=excellent) regarding its usefulness (7.88±1.58), content (7.44±1.55), relevance of session & content (7.69±1.49), facilitation (7.25± 1.69) and training as overall (7.94± 1.44). The rating was notable. The rating on Likert scale 1-4 (1= not important, 4= extremely important) for “sessions on curriculum” (3.38±0.50), “sessions on teaching/learning methods” (3.25±0.68), “sessions on PBL” (3.06±0.68), “sessions on microteaching” (3.56±0.51) and sessions on assessment (3.19±0.75) was also remarkable. All participants strongly agreed (4.00±0.0), training has transformed them as better educator. The participants shared adequate content delivered systematically, group work exercises were best resources, and resource persons were friendly and competent, and suggested to reduce time of training and include more group work. Almost all participants except one perceived training has enormous impact on them academically, professionally and personally and all committed what’s learnt/acquired will apply in practice. CONCLUSION: Overall, reaction of the participants was constructive and they acknowledged the importance of training and agreed training has transformed them as better educators. Almost all participants perceived training has immense impact on them academically and they committed what’s learnt will apply in practice.

The sanitary emergency and language teachers’ training needs in Italy

Language teaching represents one of the language sciences that can be regarded as applicative. The teaching of modern languages is a discipline that is intrinsically interconnected with other disciplines and, from the moment it was scientifically recognized on the epistemological level, it has been characterized by a keen interest and affinity towards the technologies. This essay showcases the results of a survey conducted on a sample of teachers on the effects of the pandemic on language teaching in Italy. L’emergenza sanitaria e i bisogni formativi dei docenti di lingua in Italia. La didattica delle lingue rappresenta una delle scienze del linguaggio di carattere applicativo. La glottodidattica inoltre è una disciplina interconnessa intimamente con altri campi del sapere e, fin dai primi momenti di autonomia sul piano dello statuto epistemologico, con la tecnologia. Questo contributo permette di analizzare i risultati di un’indagine condotta su un campione rappresentativo di insegnanti in merito agli effetti della pandemia sull’insegnamento delle lingue in Italia. L’emergenza sanitaria e i bisogni formativi dei docenti di lingua in Italia La didattica delle lingue rappresenta una delle scienze del linguaggio di carattere applicativo. La glottodidattica inoltre è una disciplina interconnessa intimamente con altri campi del sapere e, fin dai primi momenti di autonomia sul piano dello statuto epistemologico, con la tecnologia. Questo contributo permette di analizzare i risultati di un’indagine condotta su un campione rappresentativo di insegnanti in merito agli effetti della pandemia sull’insegnamento delle lingue in Italia.

Integrating Video-Based Multimedia in Teaching Physics in Context of Covid-19 in Rwandan Secondary Schools

The Covid-19 pandemic has paralyzed the education system and lead to temporary school closure. After school re-opening, long-term responses to a resilient education system were needed. A descriptive survey research design was used to diagnose the barriers to video-based multimedia integration in teaching and learning physics in certain secondary schools. 47 physics teachers (35 males and 12 females) were purposely selected from 24 schools located in the Rutsiro and Rubavu districts. A questionnaire was given to all 47 teachers. One-on-one interview with great attention to the measures of reducing the transmission of Covid-19 was conducted to all senior five physics teachers. Research findings revealed that video-based multimedia is less used in teaching and learning physics. Teachers indicated that poor infrastructure, poor teachers’ training aimed at effective integration of multimedia in education, pressure to prepare students for exams, and teachers’ lack of time for preparation are major factors that impede the use of video-based multimedia in teaching and learning physics. Results also provided proof of the necessity to provide digital devices to teachers and learners, teachers’ training, and learners’ preparation for virtual classes so that video-based multimedia could be a better instructional strategy to long-term responses for Covid-19 and future shocks. The findings of this study revealed that VBM could be a consensus on education and technology competency required to support teaching and learning especially during Covid-19 and future shocks.

PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS TRAINING FOR THE FORMATION OF SUBJECT-SUBJECT EDUCATIONAL RELATIONS WITH STUDENTS

The article, based on the methodological and theoretical analysis of scientific works, deals with the essence and specifics of professional training of pre-service teachers to form subject-subject educational relationships with students.It was found that the main tendency of study the willingness of the pre-service teacher to form subject-subject relations is to define their training as a holistic complex multilevel personal development. It is established that the integrity of the professional training of pre-service teachers in the development of the educational relationships should be considered in the unity of interdependent and interdependent components: scientific-theoretical, methodological and practical-activity.Criteria and indicators of future teacher’s willingness to form subject-subject relations with students are defined and systematized: critical type of thinking (personal flexibility, knowledge of the specifics of humane interaction, educational position in relations with students); creative and professional activity (knowledge of technologies of humane education, demonstration of own pedagogical skill, use of system of methods of pedagogical and psychotherapeutic influence); formation of practical skills and abilities (reflexive-perceptual skills, diagnostic skills, ability to create educational situations, skills of dialogical-humane communication).

PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ TRAINING FOR THE INNOVATIVE EXTRACURRICULAR WORK

The research proves that the level of pre-service teachers’ readiness for innovative extracurricular work at school will be increased together with the general index of their satisfaction with the extracurricular work at university after the implementing the designed holistic program of their training. The participants of the pedagogical experiment were 148 students, divided into experimental and control groups; the experts were 18 teachers of Philological Faculty of the Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav and 10 General Secondary Schools teachers (Pereiaslav, Ukraine). After implementation of the program, 27% of participants were ready for innovative extracurricular work at the high level, 62% of students increased their level of readiness for innovative extracurricular work to the middle one. The suggested program also increased the students' satisfaction with the extracurricular work at university. On the basis of the research results, the authors suggest methodical recommendations for educators.