A teacher's self-efficacy has been found to be one of the most important factors contributing to a successful teaching-learning outcome for both the teacher and the students. Numerous studies have shown that there is a relationship between students' self-efficacy, students' academic achievement, teacher burnout and a teacher's sense of…

As part of the SSHRC partnership grant on Reciprocal Learning between Ontario, Canada and Southwest, China, we examined the commonalities and differences in secondary school Inquiry-based Teaching (IBT) in science between sister schools in Ontario, Canada and Southwest, China. Canadian and Chinese teachers' interpretations of inquiry through…

The objective of this study is to describe the way in which two important biological phenomena, namely diffusion and osmosis, are addressed in the classroom. The study builds on extensive research conducted over the past twenty years showing that students' appropriation of these two phenomena remains partial and incomplete. To understand some of…

This text offers an educational perspective on the challenges surrounding the implementation of integration (and interdisciplinarity) of mathematics and sciences and technology (M-S&T) in education and in the initial training of secondary school teachers. We find that the core nature of scientific and school disciplines in initial teacher…

This article provides a description of science teacher education policy in Canada and the USA. We focus on qualifications and procedures to obtain an initial teaching license, requirements for license renewal, and trends in our respective countries. In both countries, science teacher education is the responsibility of the province or state, rather…

This article discusses how modern technology, such as electronic response systems, PeerWise system, data collection and analysis tools, computer simulations, and modeling software can be used in physics methods courses to promote teacher-candidates' professional competencies and their positive attitudes about mathematics and science education. We…

The author compares two frameworks, one proposed by Sauvé (2005) for environmental education (EE) and the other prepared by Pedretti and Nazir (2011) for Science, Technology, Society and Environment (STSE) education. With the aim of investigating the utility of the two frameworks as tools for analysis of science teaching practice, the author…

This article investigates the influences on a teacher's uncertainty through the use of storyline methodology. As a research method, storylines can be utilised to educe a teacher's responses to inquiries into their practice. The particular storylines in this article are drawn from the uncertainty work of Floden and Clark (1988) and reflect aspects…

In the context of an education reform in Quebec, this case study illustrates how a science teacher's practice was redefined with nine classes over a period of four months on a specific, integrative theme inspired by issues of daily life in an attempt to increase her students' motivation and to better make sense of some scientific concepts…

The focus is on the practices of secondary science teachers in rural, resource-extraction-based communities in the boreal region of northern Ontario, Canada. In 2008 the Ontario Ministry of Education mandated that science teaching and learning should bring to the forefront consideration of the impacts of science on society and environment, and…

The Flipped Classroom isn't for everyone, but it's been well received by Math and Biology students and their parents at Okanagan Mission Secondary School (OKM) in Kelowna, B.C., and was strongly supported by the OKM principal, Scott Mclean. As teacher Graham Johnson noted in his personal account of his first year using the Flipped Classroom…

This study investigated Ontario science and biology teachers' practices and attitudes toward animal dissection and dissection alternatives. The data was collected through a mixed methods approach involving online surveys (n = 153) and subsequent telephone interviews (n = 9) with secondary school science and biology teachers. The findings indicate…

Carolyn Durley is a veteran Biology teacher who adopted the Flipped Classroom in the 2011-2012 school year, the same year as Graham Johnson adopted it for Math. They both teach in Okanagan Mission Secondary School in Kelowna , B.C. This paper offers Durley's observations regarding her adoption of Flipped Classroom. She narrates her teaching…

As secondary educators seek strategies to support reluctant and disengaged learners, a greater understanding of the learning sciences (how people learn) becomes more important. This article examines the emerging knowledge base on the learning sciences and investigates how what has been discoveries about how and why people learn have practical…

Exploratory and descriptive research was conducted in a secondary school to reveal the realities and difficulties of the implementation process that awaits teachers under Quebec's Educational Reform. A team of teachers agreed to be observed while simulating implementation one year ahead of other schools. Results underscore the importance of…