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ERIC Number: EJ1311481
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Aug
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2576-6767
EISSN: N/A
Effectively Adapting and Implementing In-Person Teacher Professional Development to a Virtual Format
Chandran, Katie Busch; Haynie, Kathy C.; Tawbush, Rachael; Wyss, J. Michael
Journal of STEM Outreach, v4 n3 Aug 2021
A year of COVID-19 quarantine required educators to switch from in-person to virtual learning platforms, causing a dramatic reimagining of their daily praxis. Their experiences are likely to influence new norms for K-12 education. While virtual learning can be effective, student engagement, student retention, and student attention can be challenging. This paper discusses how we adapted a materials-heavy, hands-on, annual summer teacher professional development (PD) program from an in-person to a virtual platform in the initial months of the pandemic. We successfully maintained effective and hands-on components, giving authentic learning experiences to the participants. The 2020 virtual version of the program effectively engaged in-service teachers with high daily participation and retention rates. Nearly all participants rated the workshops as very good or excellent, and an assessment of participants' learning outcomes was comparable to that of the highly-rated in-person 2018 version of the program. Following the PD session, teachers reported feeling more prepared to facilitate their students' learning, increased inquiry-based science teaching knowledge and skills, and their enthusiasm for utilizing workshop strategies. While there are challenges to implementing virtual learning, virtual teacher PD can be widely adaptable and replicable for many institutions, especially in situations in which distance or finances deter in-person participation.
Journal of STEM Outreach. PMB 0367, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203. e-mail: jstemoutreach@vanderbilt.edu; Web site: https://www.jstemoutreach.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) (DHHS/NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Alabama
Grant or Contract Numbers: GM132967; GM111369