Genuine faculty-mentored research experiences for in-service science teachers: Increases in science knowledge, perception, and confidence levels

Christine E. Cutucache, Heather D. Leas, Neal F. Grandgenett, Kari L. Nelson, Steven Rodie, Robert Shuster, Chris Schaben, William E. Tapprich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The overall purpose of this multifocused study was to explore how participation in genuine mentored scientific research experiences impacts in-service science teachers and the knowledge and skills needed for their own science teaching. The research experiences resulted from a partnership between the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Omaha Public School District. This Teacher-Researcher Partnership Program facilitated opportunities in inquiry, science content, interaction with laboratory instrumentation and technologies, critical discussion of literature, and dissemination of findings for participating in-service science teacher professional development utilizing an inquiry-based theoretical framework wherein we examined science teacher preparation via inquiry-based methods in the research laboratory. A mixed-methods approach with a convergent typology (i.e., qualitative and quantitative analyses conducted separately and integrated) was used to investigate the impact of the program on teachers. Our research question was as follows: How do teachers define and approach scientific research before and after a genuine research experience? We observed 3 emergent nodes or themes by which teachers indicated significant gains: science content knowledge, confidence, and perception. Moreover, we determined that participation by science teachers in a mentored research experience using current scientific technologies and tools improved teacher confidence in science and inquiry as well as an ongoing commitment to provide similar types of experiences to their students. These data support the need for the participation of in-service science teachers in genuine research experiences to boost technological and pedagogical content knowledge, con fidence in process and content, and the perception of translatability to the classroom.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)724-744
Number of pages21
JournalJournal of Science Teacher Education
Volume28
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Ecosystem
  • Science education
  • Scientific inquiry
  • Teacher learning model
  • Teacher-researcher partnership program

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education

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