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Designing Professional Development for Teachers of Science and Mathematics
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Designing Professional Development for Teachers of Science and Mathematics

Third Edition

Foreword by Dennis Sparks



November 2009 | 424 pages | Corwin

"This third edition represents the gold standard of resources for those working in the field of professional development. My staff and I highly recommend this book as a primary resource for designing and continuously improving professional development programs for teachers of science and mathematics. Unlike other resources, this unique and important book provides current research, an updated strategic planning framework, and access to a portfolio of best practices for informing your work."
—Sally Goetz Shuler, Executive Director
National Science Resources Center

"In the 21st century when STEM education has become vital for our students and our nation and the importance of quality professional development has increased at least tenfold, this seminal work should be required reading for every education leader. It is both practical and scholarly in guiding a school toward a culture of continuous learning and improvement."
—Harold Pratt, President, Science Curriculum Inc.
Former President, National Science Teachers Association

The classic guide for designing robust science and mathematics professional development programs!

This expanded edition of one of the most widely cited resources in the field of professional learning for mathematics and science educators demonstrates how to design professional development for teachers that is directly linked to improving student learning. Presenting an updated professional development (PD) planning framework, the third edition of the bestseller reflects current research on PD design, underscores how beliefs and local factors can influence the PD design, illustrates a wide range of PD strategies, and emphasizes the importance of:

  • Continuous program monitoring
  • Combining strategies to address diverse needs
  • Building cultures that sustain learning

An inspiring blend of theory and practical wisdom, Designing Professional Development for Teachers of Science and Mathematics remains a highly regarded reference for improving professional practice and student achievement.


 
Foreword by Dennis Sparks
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Introduction
What Has Happened Since the First and Second Editions

 
The Enduring Challenges of Professional Development

 
Carrying on Susan Loucks-Horsley’s Work

 
Purpose of the Book

 
Changes in the Third Edition

 
The Audience for This Book

 
Organization of the Book

 
How to Use This Book

 
Values Shared by the Authors

 
 
1. A Framework for Designing Professional Development
Inputs Into the Design Process

 
The Design and Implementation Process

 
 
2. Knowledge and Beliefs Supporting Effective Professional Development
Learners and Learning

 
Teachers and Teaching

 
The Nature of Science and Mathematics

 
Adult Learning and Professional Development

 
The Change Process

 
 
3. Context Factors Influencing Professional Development
Students and Their Learning Needs

 
Teachers and Their Learning Needs

 
Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment Practices, and the Learning Environment

 
Organizational Culture and Professional Learning Communities

 
Leadership

 
National, State, and Local Policies

 
Available Resources

 
Families and Communities

 
Resources for Investigating Context

 
 
4. Critical Issues to Consider in Designing Professional Development
Building Capacity for Sustainability

 
Making Time for Professional Development

 
Developing Leadership

 
Ensuring Equity

 
Building a Professional Learning Culture

 
Garnering Public Support

 
Scaling Up

 
 
5. Strategies for Professional Learning
Selecting Strategies for a Professional Development Structures

 
A Repertoire of Stratgies for Professional Learning

 
 
6. The Design Framework in Action
Tapping the Knowledge Bases, Framing Beliefs: "We Stood on the Shoulders of Giants"

 
Knowledge and Beliefs About the Nature of Learning and Teaching Mathematics and Science

 
Equity Matters: "All Humans Are Educable"

 
Knowledge and Beliefs About Teachers

 
Knowledge of Effective Professional Development

 
Knowledge of the Change Process

 
Reflect and Revise: Experience as a Source of Knowledge

 
Making Compromises

 
Context

 
The Professional Development Design Process

 
Design Framework in Action: Cases

 
 
References
 
Index

"The third edition of Designing Professional Development for Teachers of Science and Mathematics, like the two previous ones, represents the gold standard for resources available to those working in the field of professional development. My staff and I highly recommend this book become a primary resource for designing and continuously improving professional development programs for teachers of science and mathematics. Unlike other resources, this unique and important book provides current research, an updated strategic planning framework, and access to a portfolio of best practices for informing your work.”

Sally Goetz Shuler, Executive Director
National Science Resources Center

“I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about developing and providing relevant and transformative professional development to teachers and school leaders.”

Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, April 2011

"In the 21st century when STEM education has become vital for our students and our nation and the importance of quality professional development has increased at least tenfold, this seminal work should be required reading for every education leader. It is both practical and scholarly in guiding a school toward a culture of continuous learning and improvement."

Harold Pratt, President, Science Curriculum Inc.
Former President, National Science Teachers Association

"Drawing upon both research and the wisdom of practice, this book makes accessible our current understanding of best practices in professional development design. The book notes the importance of professional development modeling the kinds of instruction teachers are expected to use, so it was gratifying to see the extent to which the third edition itself 'walks the talk' by making the authors' beliefs explicit and transparent."

Iris R. Weiss, President
Horizon Research, Inc.

"Great guidance from some of the best thinkers in the field, with lots of easy-to-grasp examples you can wrap your mind around. This is the ‘go-to’ book for anyone supporting math and science teachers in the improvement of their practice toward better learning for all students."

Cathy Seeley, Past President, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Author of Faster Isn’t Smarter: Messages About Math, Teaching, and Learning in the 21st Century

"Once again, this edition will help shape and guide professional development across this nation. The updated research and resources help those of us in the field design for better teacher learning with greater results on student achievement."

Kathy DiRanna, K-12 Alliance Statewide Director
WestEd

Sample Materials & Chapters

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1


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This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.