Authentic and entrepreneurial teaching practice in science and technology – variation and diversity in outcomes from professional development courses for teachers

Abstract

This qualitative study describes the variation and diversity in science and technology teachers’ self-expressed outcomes from two CPD courses with the same major aim, however with different designs and foci. The aim was to increase teachers’ knowledge of authentic and entrepreneurial learning environments in school science and technology. The CPD evaluation model presented by Harland and Kinder (1997 was used for analysis). Both courses resulted in outcomes in all eight typologies as well as in impact on practice. The teachers’ expressed experiences reflect the different foci; general reflections on changes in teaching strategies for a more authentic and entrepreneurial learning environment from one course to concrete examples of subject specific activities from the other course. This suggests that a CPD course, including teaching strategies with the content knowledge as a point of departure, thus providing concrete examples of subject related changes in teaching practice, might provide a more effective CPD.