Crafting Coherence through Educational Infrastructure to Support Elementary Science Teaching

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 11:45 am - Gold 3
  In Roundtable Session: Teaching and Teacher Formation: A Systems Thinking in Education Roundtable

Abstract

Elementary teachers and educational faculty need opportunities to translate external visions, such as Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), to local settings. With the opportunities of NGSS, elementary teachers and researchers navigate documented challenges of implementing the NGSS. In this study, we examined how focusing on routines of educational infrastructure can support coherence between NGSS goals and the realities of classroom practice. This qualitative study is guided by a design-based research (DBR) paradigm. Data were collected through recorded planning meetings, focus groups, surveys, and artifacts for two four-day professional sessions with elementary teachers and four education faculty. Three key routines underpin this work: sharing goals and needs, knowledge sharing from diverse backgrounds, and critical reflection.

Authors

• Jonathan L. Hall, California State University - San Bernardino

• Yewon Sung, California State University - San Bernardino

• Peet Smith, California State University - San Bernardino

• Halil I. Tasova, California State University - San Bernardino

• Xinying Yin, California State University - San Bernardino