Examining science educators’ perspectives on learning progressions in a climate change education professional development program

Emily Hestness, J. Randy McGinnis, Wayne Breslyn, R. Christopher McDonald, Chrystalla Mouza

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In the context of a weeklong summer professional development program focused on climate change education, we conducted a qualitative case study investigating how science educators’ understandings of learning progressions (LPs) informed their ideas about climate change teaching practice. Participants (N = 27) in the Climate Academy were middle school (n = 14), high school (n =7),highereducation(n =2),andinformal(n =4) science educators from 2 Mid-Atlantic states in the United States. In cooperation with other Climate Academy facilitators, we engaged participants in a variety of professional learning activities, among which were exploring LPs and their potential utility for informing climate change teaching practice. During these activities with LPs, the science educators engaged with LPs on 2 constructs relevant to climate change: carbon cycling and sea level rise. We collected data in the forms of observational field notes and personal interviews to gain insight into participants’ perspectives on LPs and their potential utility for supporting instructional decision making related to climate change. Our analysis of the data indicated that participants related LPs to 4 key areas: advancing student understanding, assessing student understanding, instructional planning, and providing instructional supports. We found that our participants assimilated LP ideas into their preexisting views of teaching and learning, which could facilitate or hinder transformation in their instructional approaches. Implications apply directly to science educator professional development in climate change education and in general to professional development in science education that includes LPs as a focus.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)250-274
Number of pages25
JournalJournal of Science Teacher Education
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Climate change education
  • Learning progressions
  • Professional development programs
  • Science education
  • Sea level rise

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education

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