Target Inquiry: Teacher professional development impacts on classroom practices and teacher beliefs about inquiry instruction

CHED 1479

Laura M. Kennedy, laurakennedy1984@msn.com, Ellen J. Yezierski, yezierse@gvsu.edu, and Deborah G. Herrington, herringd@gvsu.edu. Department of Chemistry, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI 49401-9403
Current studies of research experience for teacher (RET) programs, based on teacher self-report data, assume RETs affect instruction. Target Inquiry (TI) at Grand Valley State University is an innovative professional development (PD) program for chemistry teachers. Based upon best practices in PD, TI is designed to impact the quality and frequency of inquiry teaching through the participation in a RET and development/implementation of inquiry-based activities. The extent to which instructional practices changed due to these experiences is indicated by classroom observational data using the Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP). Additionally, teachers' beliefs about inquiry teaching were assessed using the Inquiry Teaching Beliefs (ITB) instrument/interview protocol. ITB and RTOP data were evaluated using constant comparative analysis to better understand the relationship between teachers' beliefs and practices. Findings indicate if and how teaching practices were impacted by the RET and curriculum development experiences therefore potentially shaping RET designs in multiple settings.
 

Chemistry Education Research
1:30 PM-4:55 PM, Tuesday, April 8, 2008 Hilton New Orleans Riverside -- HEC A, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008