Abstract
‘School Innovation in Science’ represents a model, developed through working with more than 200 Victorian schools, to improve science teaching and learning. SIS works at the level of the science team and the teacher, providing resources to challenge and support the change process. Its emphasis is on strategic planning supported by a framework for describing effective teaching, materials for auditing practice and planning initiatives, and a networked support structure. Experience and results from the project, concerning the nature and extent of change, will be used to provide insight into the multidimensional nature of the change process and to suggest a number of principles concerning support for change. Arising out of this, the major elements of a School Innovation Model are identified, that supports a transformative agenda for schools more generally.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Australian Academy of Science (AAS) (2005). Primary Connections. www.science.org.au/primaryconnections.
Baird, J. R., & Mitchell, I. J. (Eds.). (1986). Improving the quality of teaching and learning: An Australian case study-The PEEL project. Melbourne, Victoria: Monash University.
Baird, J. R., & Northfield, J. R. (1992). Learning from the PEEL experience. Melbourne: Monash University.
Beeth, M., Duit, R., Prenzel, M., Ostermeier, C., Tytler, R., & Wickman, P.-O. (2003). Quality development projects in science education. In D. Psillos, P. Kariotoglou, V. Tselfes, G. Fassoulopoulos, E. Hatzikraniotis, & M. Kallery (Eds.), Science education research in the knowledge based society (pp. 447–458). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer.
Carrick, J. (1989). Report of the committee of review of New South Wales schools. New South Wales Government (quoted in Webb, 1993).
Fraser, B., & Treagust, D. (1986). Validity and use of an instrument for assessing classroom psychosocial environment in higher education. Higher Education, 15(1-2), 37–57.
Goldsmith, L., & Schifter, D. (1997). Understanding teachers in transition: Characteristics of a model for developing teachers. In E. Fennema & B. Nelson (Eds.), Mathematics teachers in transition (pp. 19–54). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Goodrum, D., Hackling, M., & Rennie, L. (2001). The status and quality of teaching and learning of science in Australian schools. Canberra, ACT: Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs.
Gough, A., & Sharpley, B. (2002, July). Science with a difference and a twist - stories of primary students’ environmental science interest and action. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, USA.
Guskey, T., & Huberman, M. (Eds.). (1995). Professional development in education: New paradigms and practices. New York: Teachers College.
Hall, G. E., & Hord, S. M. (2001). Implementing change: Patterns, principles, and potholes. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Hargreaves, A. (1994). Changing teachers, changing times: Teachers’ work and culture in the postmodern age. London: Cassell.
Hill, P. W., & Crevola, C. A. M. (1999). The role of standards in educational reform for the 21st Century. In D. D. Marsh (Ed.), Preparing our schools for the 21st Century. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Year Book 1999.
Hoban, G. (1992). Teaching and report writing in primary science: Case studies of an intervention program. Research in Science Education, 22, 194–203.
Joyce, B., & Showers, B. (1995). Student achievement through staff development: Fundamentals of school renewal (2nd ed.). New York: Longman.
Loughran, J., & Ingvarson, L. (1993). Science teachers’ views of professional development. Research in Science Education, 23, 174–182.
Luke, A., Elkins, J., Weir, K., Land, R., Carrington, V., Dole, S., et al., (2003). Beyond the middle: A report about literacy and numeracy development of target group students in the middle years of schooling. Brisbane, Queensland: Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training. Retrieved April 2003 from http://www.gu.edu.au/school/cls/clearinghouse/.
Lyons, T. (2006). Different countries, same science classes: Students’ experiences of school science in their own words. International Journal of Science Education, 28(6), 591–613.
Mitchell, I. (2000). PEEL in Practice: 650 Ideas for quality teaching. Melbourne, Victoria: Monash University CD.
Murphy, P., Davidson, M., Qualter, A., Simon, S., & Watt, D. (2001). Effective practice in Primary Science. Report of an exploratory study funded by the Nuffield Curriculum Projects Centre. London: Nuffield Foundation.
Osborne, J., Simon, S., & Collins, S. (2003). Attitudes towards science: A review of the literature and its implications. International Journal of Science Education, 25(9), 1049–1080.
Owen, J., Johnson, H., Clarke, D., Lovitt, C., & Morony, W. (1987). The mathematics curriculum and teaching program: Guidelines for consultants and curriculum teachers. Canberra, ACT: Curriculum Development Unit.
Paige, K. (1994). Factors perceived to have enabled 25 women to develop expertise to teach primary science. Research in Science Education, 24, 246–252.
Penick, J., & Yager, J. (1983). The search for excellence in science education. Phi Delta Kappan, 64, 621–623.
Shulman, L. (1986). Those who understand: Knowledge growth in teaching. Educational Researcher, 15, 4–14.
SIS Project Team (2003). The science in schools research project: Report of Phase 3. Melbourne, Victoria: Deakin University Consultancy and Development Unit.
Thomas, G., & McRobbie, C. (2002). Collaborating to enhance student reasoning: Frances’ account of her reflections while teaching chemical equilibrium. International Journal of Science Education, 24(4), 405–423.
Tobin, K., & Fraser, B. J. (1988). Investigations of exemplary practice in high school science and mathematics. Australian Journal of Education, 32(1), 75–94.
Treagust, D. F. (1991). A case study of two exemplary biology teachers. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 28(4), 329–342.
Tytler, R. (2001). Describing and supporting effective science teaching and learning in Australian schools - validation issues. Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching. http://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt/v2_issue2.
Tytler, R. (2003). A window for a purpose: Developing a framework for describing effective science teaching and learning. Research in Science Education, 30(3), 273–298.
Tytler, R. (2005). School innovation in science: Change, culture, complexity. In K. Boersma, M. Goedhart, O. de Jong & H. Eijkelhof (Eds.), Research and the quality of science education (pp. 89–105). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
Tytler, R., & Conley, H. (2003, July). School innovation in science: Focusing on leadership in the school change process. Proceedings of the 48th World Assembly of the International Council on Education for Teaching and the annual conference of the Australian Teacher Education Association, Melbourne, Victoria.
Tytler, R., & Griffiths, M. (2003). Spending time on Primary Science in integrated units. Investigating, 19(1), 12–16.
Tytler, R., & Nakos, S. (2003). School Innovation in Science: Transformative initiatives in Victorian secondary schools. Australian Science Teachers’ Journal, 49(4), 18–27.
Tytler, R., Sharpley, B., & Tsiatsias, S. (2001). Effective Science Teaching and a Strategy for its Implementation. Proceedings of the annual Conference of the Australian Science Teachers Association (CONASTA). http://www.conasta.stansw.asn.au. ERIC. ED457023.
Tytler, R., & Waldrip, B. (2002). Improving primary science: Schools’ experience of change. Investigating, 18(4), 23–26.
Tytler, R., Waldrip, B., & Griffiths, M. (2004). Windows into practice: Constructing effective science teaching and learning in a school change initiative. International Journal of Science Education, 26(2), 171–194.
Webb, C. (1993). Teacher perceptions of professional development needs and the implementation of the K-6 Science and Technology syllabus. Research in Science Education, 23, 327–336.
White, R. T., & Gunstone, R. F. (1989). Metalearning and conceptual change. International Journal of Science Education, 11, 577–586.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tytler, R. School Innovation in Science: A Model for Supporting School and Teacher Development. Res Sci Educ 37, 189–216 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-006-9022-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-006-9022-9