Abstract:

The aim of this research is to determine the effectiveness of an enacted professional development (CPD) programme to promote teacher’s self-efficacy with respect to implementing motivational, context-based science teaching, following an education through science (EtS), three-stage model approach. The CPD is designed, based on a constructivist, socio-cultural professional development model (CSPM) to meet professional needs of each teacher within a predetermined teaching-learning approach and enacted through suitable instructional methods linked to teacher as learner, teacher as teacher and teacher as reflective practitioner. The effectiveness of the CPD is identified by means of a carefully constructed and validated Teacher Needs Questionnaire (TNQ), plus follow-up teacher interviews. Findings suggest the outcomes of the CPD, both from pre-post use of the TNQ and the undertaking of interventions, using teaching-learning modules based on the CPD, are effective in raising teacher’s self-efficacy with respect to new interdisciplinary content knowledge, teaching approaches and classroom implementation, seen as being in line with curriculum expectations.

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