In response to the need for a scalable, institutionally supported model of educational change, the Science Education Initiative (SEI) was created as an experiment in transforming course materials and faculty practices at two institutions--University of Colorado Boulder (CU) and University of British Columbia. We find that this departmentally…

In China, science educators as a professional group were originally referred to as academic staff responsible for teaching the subject-based science teaching methods course at the related science departments at teachers' universities. In this study, a biographic method was used to approach the professional life of Zhixin Liu, who was a senior…

In this article we investigate the changing context for teacher professional learning potentially afforded by the conceptual change from professional development to professional learning. Using a narrative case study methodology, we utilize the "Best Evidence Synthesis Iteration" developed by Timperley, Wilson, Barrar and Fung (2007) to analyse…

Interviews with 31 science teachers and 39 class observations focused on aspects of the departmental environment: management style, emphasis on science disciplines instead of science, and student characteristics. Departmental characteristics were perceived by teachers as significant influences on their working environment and the experience of…

Describes the physics teaching conditions at Solihull Sixth Form College, a comprehensive secondary school in the County Borough of Solihull, United Kingdom. Available physics course, timetable, teaching system, laboratories and study rooms, and future developments are also discussed. (HM)

This publication is the last in a series of 12 giving the recommendations that were made for a broad and balanced education program in science for young people. This guide shows that learning to teach better science starts formally with initial training, continues through an induction period, and is consolidated through a regular in-service…