PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES FOR REFORM-BASED CURRICULA
This randomized field trial is investigating the effectiveness of Great Exploration in Math and Science (GEMS) curriculum and professional development in improving teachers’ knowledge in enacting reform-minded instruction and elementary students’ learning in science. It is being conducted in 120 elementary school classrooms (2,400 students total) over two years in Florida’s Seminole County School District. The recently published GEMS space science sequence for grades 3 -5 will be the treatment condition for this project. All treatment group teachers will participate in professional development that has at its heart the reform-minded instructional approach and the Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) Space Science Curriculum Sequence. Other science teachers in a control group (who will also be wait-listed for treatment the following year) will address the same content standards through traditional approaches to instruction (lecture, following by reading from the text). Teacher learning, concepts and affective dimensions (pre, post, delayed post) and student learning, concepts, inquiry skills, and affective dimensions (pre, post, delayed post) will be compared across groups. During Year 2, in addition to providing the same professional development and materials to the wait-listed group, a third group will be added to the research if possible: teachers who teach the GEMS Space Science Curriculum Sequence using the materials provided, but who do NOT receive the professional development or science coach follow up support. Additionally, plans will be made to extend the study longitudinally into the middle grades. The GEMS Space Science Curriculum for grades 6-8 is due for release in April, 2008.
The following document provides more information
about this study and was developed for discussion at the International
Advisory Board meeting in February, 2008. The document can be downloaded
in Word document and PDF form.
PDapproaches_GEMS.doc
PDapproaches_GEMS.pdf