DESIGNING AN ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR STEM TEACHERS
By Peggy E. Gaskill, Ph.D.
The Michigan Virtual University’s® Michigan LearnPort®
, is offering online
professional development courses for Biology and Chemistry teachers. These
courses address four key questions:
• Do I present science accurately? • Do my students get the chance to really do biology/chemistry?
• How do I get my students to think harder? • I taught this so well, why don’t they understand it?
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The focus of these courses is on teaching practices for Biology and Chemistry teachers, rather than on the content of Biology and Chemistry. Biology and chemistry content are instead used to provide the context for examples and the teaching practices presented.
The teaching strategies for the units are related to some of those identified in the Framework for K-12 Science Education. The Framework identifies eight science and engineering practices that mirror the practices of professional scientists and engineers. These practices are part of the new science standards called the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Listed below are the science and engineering practices from the Framework:
1. Asking questions and defining problems 2. Developing and using models 3. Planning and carrying out investigations 4. Analyzing and interpreting data
5. Using mathematics, information and computer technology, and computational thinking
6. Constructing explanations and designing solutions 7. Engaging in Argument from evidence
8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information (available online at
www.nsta.org/ngss )
FALL 2012 | MACULJOURNAL
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