Meeting the Challenge of Professional Development: Design and Evaluation of a Telecommunications Mediated Course in Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education.

Overview & Synopsis

In response to the challenge for reform in science education, a new graduate course entitled "Advances in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education" was initiated at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell by the College of Education. The course focused specifically on examining how private research and development work dovetails into the stated contemporary goals of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Project 2061. It emphasized the transdisciplinary connections between mathematics, science and technology education. In addition to classes, a series of graduate-level seminars were conducted with nine speakers from private research and development organizations and academic locations outside the College of Education. Other topics covered include the electronic nature of the course, which consisted primarily of a project-centered electronic discussion forum using electronic mail; student-centered objectives; course requirements; and course content, which includes a table of main presentation topics and their corresponding foci. The presentations focused on such course-related themes as habits of the mind in science and mathematics education; breadth versus depth controversy; use of technology in science and mathematics education; and collaboration and connections between teachers, students, researchers, and industry. Project evaluation comprises both formal and informal assessment. (PVD)