An Approach to the Continuing Professional Development of Science and Mathematics Educators. Technical Report 8. Technical Report Series.

Overview & Synopsis

The Science and Mathematics Education Centre (SMEC) was established in 1979 in the Division of Engineering and Science at Western Australian Institute of Technology. The establishment of an autonomous SMEC, physically located in a science/mathematics environment, is helping to bridge the gap between secondary science/mathematics teachers and specialists by: involving higher education specialists in secondary school-based research and development (R&D) activities; sponsoring activities such as discipline-oriented workshops and seminars for science/mathematics teachers and students; sponsoring visits by science/mathematics education specialists from within Australia and overseas; and by providing avenues for higher education discipline experts to become involved in school activities such as field trips and extension activities for intellectually gifted students. In addition to graduate courses (leading to Master of Applied Science Degree and Graduate Diploma in Science Education) and such R&D activities as applied educational research, curriculum development, and evaluation studies, the center is directly involved in several on-going outreach activities. In addition to workshops and seminars, these activities include producing a newsletter and information broadsheets, sponsoring of visiting fellowships, and fostering industry/education relationships. The approach to continuing science/mathematics teacher professional development evolved at SMEC could be readily adopted by other institutions of higher education. (JN)