Designing Engaging Science Education Modules for Finnish Secondary School Classrooms Through an International Professional Development Project

• In Event: 64.035 - Research on Learning About and Engaging in Scientific Practices

Abstract

A two-year Professional Development Project (PDP), emphasising scientific practices and Project-based Learning (PBL), was organised for high school science teachers in collaboration with Finnish and U.S. researchers. PDP outcomes were determined by analysing how teaching modules supported student engagement through employing experience sampling method (ESM). The data showed that the level of engagement increased between the first and second cycles. After the second cycle, the teachers emphasized in an interview that goal orientation, collaboration between the teachers and researchers, reflection, and, moreover, their own active and contextual learning during the PDP, supported their learning. Moreover, they spoke about the importance of employing a research orientation to improve educational practices, and the role of formal training, such as workshops.

Authors

• Jari Lavonen, University of Helsinki

• Janna Inkinen, University of Helsinki

• Katariina Salmela-Aro, Cicero Learning, University of Helsinki

• Kalle Juuti, University of Helsinki

• Joseph S. Krajcik, Michigan State University

• Barbara Schneider, Michigan State University