Professional Development for the Redesigned Advanced Placement Biology Exam: Teacher Participation Patterns and Student Outcomes

• In Event: Evaluation of Teacher Professional Development

Abstract

This study reports findings from a survey of 2,058 Advanced Placement (AP) Biology teachers who participated in a range of professional development opportunities in response to a major revision of the AP Biology examination in 2013. Each teacher participated in as many as 8 different professional development offerings, with the majority participating in either 2 or 3. Professional development selection was significantly related to teachers’ concerns about challenges with teaching the revised AP course, suggesting the importance of offering different types of professional development for different teachers. The relationship between professional development participation choices and student AP exam outcomes is also explored.

Authors

• Barry J. Fishman, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Yueming Jia, Education Development Center, Inc.

• Abigail Jurist Levy, Education Development Center, Inc.

• Arthur Eisenkraft, University of Massachusetts

• Frances P. Lawrenz, University of Minnesota

• Kim Frumin, Harvard University

• Christopher J. Dede, Harvard University