Innovations in Science and Technology Education through Science Teacher Associations

One emerging issue highlighted in a UNESCO booklet (Fensham, 2008, p6)is to draw attention to the need for students to receive science education from able science teachers. The booklet emphasizes that quality science learning time, albeit less, is preferable to the damage done by underequipped scien...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ben B. Akpan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: ICASE 2010-06-01
Series:Science Education International
Subjects:
Online Access:http://icaseonline.net/sei/june2010/p1_Ben_Akpan.pdf
_version_ 1818934126657404928
author Ben B. Akpan
author_facet Ben B. Akpan
author_sort Ben B. Akpan
collection DOAJ
description One emerging issue highlighted in a UNESCO booklet (Fensham, 2008, p6)is to draw attention to the need for students to receive science education from able science teachers. The booklet emphasizes that quality science learning time, albeit less, is preferable to the damage done by underequipped science teachers. It also draws attention to the important role of science teacher associations, where its members not only have the insights and experience, but also the interest in helping science teacher colleagues. This paper highlights the various contributions possible from Science Teacher Associations (STAs) to the development and delivery of innovative science and technology education in a world that is increasinglydriven by the outputs of science and technology. It stresses the key role of such professional bodies in developing teacher ownership, the sharing of experience at a collaborative level and to be guided to take active responsibility for the interpretations of the intended Government curriculum so as to provide innovative science education best suited to students within their school. Any shift away from ‘teaching the textbook information’,‘teaching to the examination’ and towards ‘assessment for learning’(formative assessment) will be heavily enhanced by the setting up ofmultiple professional fora for enhancing the development of teacher’s PCK(pedagogical content knowledge).
first_indexed 2024-12-20T04:59:19Z
format Article
id doaj.art-74c71031e7c54f469bf49fb0848d3363
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1450-104X
2077-2327
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-20T04:59:19Z
publishDate 2010-06-01
publisher ICASE
record_format Article
series Science Education International
spelling doaj.art-74c71031e7c54f469bf49fb0848d33632022-12-21T19:52:37ZengICASEScience Education International1450-104X2077-23272010-06-012126779Innovations in Science and Technology Education through Science Teacher AssociationsBen B. AkpanOne emerging issue highlighted in a UNESCO booklet (Fensham, 2008, p6)is to draw attention to the need for students to receive science education from able science teachers. The booklet emphasizes that quality science learning time, albeit less, is preferable to the damage done by underequipped science teachers. It also draws attention to the important role of science teacher associations, where its members not only have the insights and experience, but also the interest in helping science teacher colleagues. This paper highlights the various contributions possible from Science Teacher Associations (STAs) to the development and delivery of innovative science and technology education in a world that is increasinglydriven by the outputs of science and technology. It stresses the key role of such professional bodies in developing teacher ownership, the sharing of experience at a collaborative level and to be guided to take active responsibility for the interpretations of the intended Government curriculum so as to provide innovative science education best suited to students within their school. Any shift away from ‘teaching the textbook information’,‘teaching to the examination’ and towards ‘assessment for learning’(formative assessment) will be heavily enhanced by the setting up ofmultiple professional fora for enhancing the development of teacher’s PCK(pedagogical content knowledge).http://icaseonline.net/sei/june2010/p1_Ben_Akpan.pdfAssociationCurriculumIn-servicePublicationScienceTeachers
spellingShingle Ben B. Akpan
Innovations in Science and Technology Education through Science Teacher Associations
Science Education International
Association
Curriculum
In-service
Publication
Science
Teachers
title Innovations in Science and Technology Education through Science Teacher Associations
title_full Innovations in Science and Technology Education through Science Teacher Associations
title_fullStr Innovations in Science and Technology Education through Science Teacher Associations
title_full_unstemmed Innovations in Science and Technology Education through Science Teacher Associations
title_short Innovations in Science and Technology Education through Science Teacher Associations
title_sort innovations in science and technology education through science teacher associations
topic Association
Curriculum
In-service
Publication
Science
Teachers
url http://icaseonline.net/sei/june2010/p1_Ben_Akpan.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT benbakpan innovationsinscienceandtechnologyeducationthroughscienceteacherassociations