Imagining the Future of Teacher Professional Development: Academic Summer Camps as Catalysts for Teacher Growth

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 4:15 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Empowering In-Service Teachers Through Professional Development

Abstract

Informal learning environments like academic summer camps may offer responsive, individualized development for educators and encourage retention, especially for early-career teachers. This qualitative study examines three educators’ experiences working with STEM faculty at a local University and each other in the development and implementation of a STEM camp curriculum for middle school learners. Specifically, the study examines how a summer camp experience may be an approach to professional development for educators. A survey, observations, and focus group interviews were used for data collection. Preliminary results indicate that participants gained content knowledge, instructional strategies specific to the discipline, and collaborative skills through designing and co-teaching engaging lessons, indicating academic camps may serve as a catalyst for teacher professional growth.

Authors

• Robert B. Marsteller, Delaware State University

• Tina Mitchell, Deleware State University