Sponsor
Portland State University. Center for Science Education
First Advisor
William Becker
Date of Publication
Spring 4-14-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.) in General Science
Department
Science Teaching
Language
English
Subjects
Science -- Study and teaching (Elementary), School field trips, Elementary school teachers -- In-service training, Next Generation Science Standards (Education), Elementary school teachers -- Attitudes
DOI
10.15760/etd.5415
Physical Description
1 online resource (vi, 97 pages)
Abstract
With the recent adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards in Oregon, there is a great need for teachers to be trained to effectively implement the three dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in their teaching. Time and location are the largest constraining factors that affect teacher participation in professional development trainings. To address this constraint, Tryon Creek State Park offered a NGSS professional development training opportunity for teachers that was integrated within a field trip that they took their students on. Before the field trip, teachers were introduced to the NGSS through a set of NGSS pre-field trip materials which informed them about the NGSS and how aspects of it would be integrated into their students' field trip. Teachers accompanied their students on a two-hour long field trip at Tryon Creek State Park where teachers observed nature guides model NGSS-aligned activities for the students. My research aimed to answer the following question: How will an informal science education program at Tryon Creek State Park affect K-2 teachers' awareness of the Next Generation Science Standards? Outcomes were measured through a pre/post retrospective survey and follow-up interviews. On the survey teachers reported little awareness of the three dimensions of the NGSS and very few of the teachers increased their understanding after the treatment. On the other hand, most had a high level of awareness and confidence in teaching factual information supporting the NGSS prior to treatment, resulting in a ceiling effect. Interviews suggested that few teachers read the materials sent in advance of the field trip, but teachers who did read the materials indicated increases in understanding of the NGSS. During the field trip several of the nature guides were effective in modeling science and engineering practices. These findings suggest that this method of professional development is promising, but needs further refinement.
Rights
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/23211
Recommended Citation
Niedo, Noelle Frances Garcia, "A Pilot Study on Methods to Introduce Teachers to New Science Standards" (2017). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 3531.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.5415