The purpose of this sequential Case Study-Mixed Methods research is to explore rural teacher attitudes toward, approaches to, and engagement with making and computational thinking during STEM professional development and co-teaching learning experiences. Specifically, we examine the professional learning needs of two rural, middle school teachers as they engage technology. Using the lens of cultural historical activity theory, this paper examines the ways in which teacher attitude about computing shifted throughout professional learning and instructional practice. Findings show three broad themes that emerge surrounding teacher attitudes, approaches, and engagement with technology: Anxiety, Independent Learner, and Integration. Additionally, findings suggest that teacher attitude toward technology can be moderated through the means of a more knowledgeable other who scaffolds teacher learning and integration of technology.
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Analytical Framework of Influences on Science Teachers’ Formative Assessment (FA) Practices
In a time of increasing globalization, it is crucial that students are prepared to use their science knowledge to reason, solve problems, and practice socially responsible decision-making. Thus, teachers need to develop assessment strategies that monitor and enhance these competencies. Research suggests that teachers can enact formative assessment (FA) in this way, however, they often focus on how students’ answers compare to the canon as represented by the curriculum. When shifting toward FA enactment that is more responsive to student reasoning, teachers encounter various conceptual, pedagogical, cultural, and political dilemmas. Here, we present an analytical framework that can be used to analyze influences on the development of teacher FA practices and strategies teachers use to overcome dilemmas. Our development of this analytical framework is based on cultural-historical activity theory and is comprised of two stages. First, we present an initial analytical framework developed using activity theory to interpret and combine Windschitl’s (2002) dilemma categories and Dini et al.’s (2020) FA enactment model. Second, we present the refinement of this initial framework through a case study of two teacher cases. The impact of this novel analytical framework on research and practice is discussed.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1757249
- PAR ID:
- 10216517
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- NARST 2020
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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