ERIC Number: EJ767734
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 18
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0095-8964
EISSN: N/A
The Impact of a Place-Based Professional Development Program on Teachers' Confidence, Attitudes, and Classroom Practices
Meichtry, Yvonne; Smith, Jeffrey
Journal of Environmental Education, v38 n2 p15-32 Win 2007
The purposes of this study were to determine the impact of a professional development program on the confidence levels and classroom practices of the participants and their attitudes toward the environment. The program had immersed teachers in a watershed study that took them from the headwaters of a 310-mile river to its confluence with the Ohio River over a 6-day period during the summer. The teaching approaches used were based on national standards, best teaching practices, and current trends in environmental education. Pre-, post-, and long-term postsurvey data were analyzed using a MANOVA and univariate tests to measure changes in confidence levels and classroom practices in the use of various technology; standards-based teaching strategies; community resources; field investigations; and in the teaching of watershed topics, real life topics, societal issues, and career education. The results of a separate pre-, post-, and long-term postsurvey were analyzed using a paired samples t test to measure changes in teachers' environmental attitudes. Recommendations are presented that can be generalized across a variety of educational programs. (Contains 11 tables.)
Descriptors: Program Effectiveness, Teaching Methods, Professional Development, National Standards, Earth Science, Community Resources, Environmental Education, Self Concept, Teacher Attitudes, Water, Career Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ohio
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A