Responsible research and innovation in science education: insights from evaluating the impact of using digital media and arts-based methods on RRI values

The European Commission policy approach of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is gaining momentum in European research planning and development as a strategy to align scientific and technological progress with socially desirable and acceptable ends. One of the RRI agendas is science education, aiming to foster future generations' acquisition of skills and values needed to engage in society responsibly. To this end, it is argued that RRI-based science education can benefit from more interdisciplinary methods such as those based on arts and digital technologies. However, the evidence existing on the impact of science education activities using digital media and arts-based methods on RRI values remains underexplored. This article comparatively reviews previous evidence on the evaluation of these activities, from primary to higher education, to examine whether and how RRI-related learning outcomes are evaluated and how these activities impact on students' learning. Forty academic publications were selected and its content analysed according to five RRI values: creative and critical thinking, engagement, inclusiveness, gender equality and integration of ethical issues. When evaluating the impact of digital and arts-based methods in science education activities, creative and critical thinking, engagement and partly inclusiveness are the RRI values mainly addressed. In contrast, gender equality and ethics integration are neglected. Digital-based methods seem to be more focused on students' questioning and inquiry skills, whereas those using arts often examine imagination, curiosity and autonomy. Differences in the evaluation focus between studies on digital media and those on arts partly explain differences in their impact on RRI values, but also result in non-documented outcomes and undermine their potential. Further developments in interdisciplinary approaches to science education following the RRI policy agenda should reinforce the design of the activities as well as procedural aspects of the evaluation research

Understanding Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge in an Educational Technology Course: A Case Study of Social Studies Preservice Teacher\u27s Beliefs and Dispositions

As beliefs and dispositions form the foundation of practice, the situations in which teachers develop belief is an important factor in their development (Roth, 1999). One aspect shaping the beliefs of teacher candidates is their experience with education. Lortie (2002) refers to this as the problem of “apprenticeship of observation”, the learning that occurs from watching teachers in the 12 or more years spent in school as a student. School experiences greatly affect the preconceptions teacher candidates have about teaching and learning. Richardson and Placier (2001) state most preservice teacher beliefs consist of unexamined assumptions. These views tend to focus on the affective quality of teachers they experienced, favorite teaching styles, and what certain children do. Teacher candidates tend not to think about the social contexts, subject matter, or pedagogy involved. Thus, preconceptions left unexplored are difficult to change later. This qualitative case study investigates how a new iteration of an educational technology class influences the preconceptions, beliefs, and dispositions of five secondary social studies teacher candidates’ implementation of Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge framework (Mishra & Koehler, 2006). The suitability of this class as a space to challenge teacher candidate preconceptions is discussed. Through interview, survey data, class observations, and student produced artefacts, issues of teacher candidate preconceptions, belief, and disposition toward their future teaching are examined. How aspects of the class influenced participants’ developing understanding of TPACK as well as challenging their beliefs about teaching social studies are discussed. Implications for teacher educators regarding teacher candidate belief, the learning of meaningful educational technology integration, and programmatic issues concerning appropriate course placement also arise because of this study

Science Excel: An Effective Teacher Recruitment Program for Rural Schools?

This study explored the possibility of using an Excel program to identify and recruit teachers into the profession at the secondary level

Triad experiences: The impact of joint professional development forpre- and in- service science teachers on triad dynamics

This presentation focuses on the results of in-depth phenomenological interviewing of triads involved in a pilot professional development project

Pre-service teachers use e-learning technologies to enhance their learning

The purpose of this study was twofold. The primary purpose was to improve pre-service teacher education by using technology to help pre-service teachers bridge the gap between academic preparation and practice. The secondary, but still important, objective was to familiarize pre-service teachers in the use of technology to support their future pedagogical activities. Therefore, this research sought to develop a method for training undergraduate students in designing, implementing, and evaluating lesson plans to solidify the relationship between research, pedagogy, and teaching practice. Specifically, this study investigated the implementation of e-learning as a method of instruction to help pre-service teachers evaluate and improve upon the implementation of their lesson plans during their real world practicum experiences. The study was guided by the following research questions: 1) What successes, challenges, and benefits do university instructors and pre-service teachers experience in using and analyzing video in teacher education methods coursework? 2) In what ways did the use of e-learning help the pre-service teachers improve their teaching during the practicum experience? Results showed that participants reported improved lesson planning, improved lesson implementation, visual interpretations of best practices, modeling, and peer and university instructor feedback as successes of the e-learning project. Challenges included participants’ frustrations of being overworked and overwhelmed with the technical problems associated with e-learning. Overall participants judged the e-learning project as a very positive aspect of their teacher training

Investigating How Participation In a Techonology-Based Project Has Influenced Education Faculty Members\u27 Beliefs and Practices with Technology Integration: Factors That Influence Faculty Technology Integration and Implications for Faculty\u27s Integration of Technology

This qualitative research study investigated the experiences of five education faculty members about their experiences with technology. These faculty members come from different areas of education. They participated in a technology-based project, the purpose of which was to help faculty members integrate technology into their classrooms and implement technology in their instructions. Before the project, all of the faculty members had experiences with technology, such as emails, Internet searches and PowerPoint applications. During the project, most of them learned web page design and more technology integration into their curriculum and instruction. The purpose of this study is to respond to the need to identify, study and disseminate examples of technology using teachers and portray a group of education faculty members after they experienced a federally funded technology-based project. Their practices, beliefs, and factors that influence their beliefs and practices with technology integration are the focus of this study. Based on the literature and the research studies, the following questions were formulated in the following: 1. How has participation in the technology-based project influenced faculty members\u27 beliefs and practices with technology integration? 2. What are the factors that influence faculty members\u27 practices regarding technology? The findings are the following. All participants have always believed that technology is an important tool and should be integrated into the teaching and learning. However they believe that technology is not the only tool that can be used to enhance teaching and learning. Their experienced in the grant project have increased their confidence and comfort in using technology by being exposed to presentations and having real hands-on activities within a certain time period that did not conflict their academic calendars. Factors that influence their beliefs and practices are: experiences in the project, access to technology and technical problems, Administrative support (from the department and project directors) and technical support: from the students, from faculty, from technician, technological leadership, communication within the community and outside, time, and subject Issues. Internal factors identified include personal belief, personal feelings with technology use, demand of time to learn, learning style, and classroom teaching

The Effect of Flipped Instruction on Special Education Preservice Teachers\u27 Perceptions

This study analyzes the flipped instruction model used in three special education educator preparation courses to examine which components preservice teachers perceived most contributed to their content knowledge, motivation, and engagement (n=50). Weekly pre-class asynchronous assignments included the use of educational technology tools such as an interactive e-textbook site, Perusall, and online academic activities such as Khan Academy to strengthen their content knowledge. This allowed more time for a student-centered approach during synchronous instruction to incorporate tools such as Nearpod, Pear Deck, Flipgrid and digital badges to strength-en their motivation and engagement. Data were collected through a post-course survey; results indicate that preservice teachers perceived this model was motivating, engaging, and contributed significantly to their content knowledge. They also identified hands-on activities during class as a significant component of their learning. This article discusses the project, limitations, and implications for future flipped instruction research in special education educator preparation programs

The Effect of Flipped Instruction on Special Education Preservice Teachers\u27 Perceptions

This study analyzes the flipped instruction model used in three special education educator preparation courses to examine which components preservice teachers perceived most contributed to their content knowledge, motivation, and engagement (n=50). Weekly pre-class asynchronous assignments included the use of educational technology tools such as an interactive e-textbook site, Perusall, and online academic activities such as Khan Academy to strengthen their content knowledge. This allowed more time for a student-centered approach during synchronous instruction to incorporate tools such as Nearpod, Pear Deck, Flipgrid and digital badges to strength-en their motivation and engagement. Data were collected through a post-course survey; results indicate that preservice teachers perceived this model was motivating, engaging, and contributed significantly to their content knowledge. They also identified hands-on activities during class as a significant component of their learning. This article discusses the project, limitations, and implications for future flipped instruction research in special education educator preparation programs

Transforming pre-service teacher curriculum: observation through a TPACK lens

This paper will discuss an international online collaborative learning experience through the lens of the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework. The teacher knowledge required to effectively provide transformative learning experiences for 21st century learners in a digital world is complex, situated and changing. The discussion looks beyond the opportunity for knowledge development of content, pedagogy and technology as components of TPACK towards the interaction between those three components. Implications for practice are also discussed. In today’s technology infused classrooms it is within the realms of teacher educators, practising teaching and pre-service teachers explore and address effective practices using technology to enhance learning