ERIC Number: EJ757823
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Feb
Pages: 27
Abstractor: Author
Reference Count: 0
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1046-560X
Teaching and Learning about Inquiry: Insights and Challenges in Professional Development
Wee, Bryan; Shepardson, Dan; Fast, Juli; Harbor, Jon
Journal of Science Teacher Education, v18 n1 p63-89 Feb 2007
The purpose of this study was to determine if teachers who participated in a professional development program continued to learn about inquiry and inquiry teaching as they implemented inquiry in their classrooms. A qualitative design utilizing inductive analysis was used to investigate teachers' understanding and classroom implementation of inquiry. Findings are presented as assertions, drawing support from four focal teachers. For each assertion, confirming and disconfirming data are presented. Based on these data, we assert that a) there was little or no change in teachers' individual understanding of inquiry, and b) professional development enhanced teachers' ability to design inquiry-based activities--however, classroom implementation did not reflect a high level of inquiry.
Descriptors: Professional Development, Inquiry, Classroom Techniques, Theory Practice Relationship, Qualitative Research, Teacher Surveys, Teacher Competency Testing, Investigations, Followup Studies, Developmental Continuity, Teacher Attitudes, Educational Research
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

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