ENHANCING SCIENCE TEACHERS’ CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF INQUIRY BASED SCIENCE EDUCATION

TitleENHANCING SCIENCE TEACHERS’ CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF INQUIRY BASED SCIENCE EDUCATION
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsKapanadze, M, Bolte, C, Schneider, V, Slovinsky, E
JournalJournal of Baltic Science Education
Volume14
Issue2
Start Page254–266
PaginationContinuous
Date PublishedApril/2015
Type of ArticleOriginal article
ISSN1648-3898
Other NumbersICID: 1151653
KeywordsIBSE, in-service teachers in Georgia, professional development, stages of concern
Abstract

Decreasing motivation in science classes is often reported in many countries. Georgia, one of the post Soviet countries, has overcome the highly centralised educational system and nowadays implements a new national educational reform. National reforms demand more student-active and inquiry-based learning. Many Georgian teachers aren’t ready for these changes and need professional development training to enhance their professional skills in Inquiry-Based Science Education (IBSE). Therefore Ilia State University offers special continuous professional development (CPD) programs for science teachers in the frame of PROFILES project. The aim of the research was to determine what profession oriented attitudes and concerns Georgian in-service science teachers have regarding IBSE and what changes are visible after the implementation of PROFILES-based CPD programme. In order to conduct the research, the Stages of Concern model was used. 40 teachers took part in the two terms of the CPD programme. Research shows that the implemented CPD programme fosters the professional attitudes and concerns of Georgian science teachers in a positive manner. Therefore, it can be highly recommended to use the framework of the PROFILES-based CPD programme(s).

URLhttp://oaji.net/articles/2016/987-1473431219.pdf
DOI10.33225/jbse/15.14.254
Refereed DesignationRefereed
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