Skip to main content
Log in

Spinning a Web (Case) Around Professional Standards: Capturing the Complexity of Science Teaching

  • Published:
Research in Science Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examines the intersection of two key reform ideas in science teacher education – professional teaching standards and the use of case methods. In this article, we track the historical development of what can be called second wave teaching standards and describe how those standards can be exemplified through multimedia web cases of science teaching. We describe a web case development project in which a group of experienced secondary science teachers work together over several months to video their own classes, and assemble video and audio commentaries of their lessons based on a set of science teaching standards. We conclude that the project was a rich professional development experience for those involved. Further, as the teaching standards movement gathers momentum in Australia and elsewhere, we contend that high quality multimedia cases linked to a standards framework show considerable promise as a vehicle to assist science teachers to reflect on their practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ball, D. L. (1993). With an eye on the mathematical horizon: Dilemmas of teaching elementary school mathematics. Elementary School Journal, 93(4), 373-397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berlak, A., & Berlak, H. (1981). Dilemmas of schooling: Teaching and social change. New York: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buss, M. (2000). Certified teachers: A powerful, collective voice for school reform. Unicorn, 26(1), 36-42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chadbourne, R., & Ingvarson, L. (1998). Self-managing schools and professional recognition: The Professional Recognition Program in Victoria's Schools of the Future. Australian Educational Researcher, 25(2), 61-93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colbert, J., Desberg, P., & Trimble, K. (Eds.). (1996). The case for education: Contemporary approaches for using case methods. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of Chief State School Officers. (1996). Interstate school leaders licensure consortium. Standards for school leaders. Washington, DC: Council of Chief State School Officers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darling-Hammond, L. (1997). The right to learn: A blueprint for creating schools that work. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darling-Hammond, L., Wise, A. E., & Klein, S. P. (1995). A license to teach: Building a profession for 21st-century schools. San Francisco: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doeke, B., & Gill, M. (1999, November). Setting standards for English/literacy teachers: Re-theorising a SPIRT Project after one year. Paper presented at the Joint Conference of Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) and New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE), Melbourne, Australia.

  • Education Department of Western Australia. (1998). Student outcome statements: English. Perth: Education Department of Western Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Department of Western Australia. (1997). Applying for level 3 classroom teacher. School Matters, 18 June, 13-14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Queensland. (1997). Standards framework for teachers. Brisbane: Centre for Teaching Excellence, Education Queensland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groves, R., Wallace, J., & Louden, W. (1999). Using professional standards and video cases to investigate good science teaching. Paper presented at the 24th annual conference of the Western Australian Science Education Research Association, Curtin University of Technology, Perth.

  • Houston, W. (1985). Competency-based teacher education. In T. Husen, & T. N. Postlethaite (Eds.), The international encyclopaedia of education: Research and studies (pp. 6015-6020). Oxford, UK: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingvarson, L. (1996). Professional standards for the teaching of science: What roles for ASTA? Australian Science Teachers Journal, 42(2), 7-12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingvarson, L. (1999, November). How can a national certification system help to empower the teaching profession? Paper presented at the Joint Conference of Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) and New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE), Melbourne, Australia.

  • Jasman, A. (1999). Assessing teachers for career progression: The Level 3 classroom teacher in Western Australia. Unicorn, 25(2), 13-23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilbourn, B. (1998). For the love of teaching. London, Ontario: Althouse Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koballa, T., & Tippins, D. (2000). The promise and dilemmas of middle and secondary science teaching: A classroom case handbook. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lampert, M. (1985). How do teachers manage to teach? Perspective on problems in practice. Harvard Educational Review, 55(2), 178-194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, B. B. (1995). Using the case method in teacher education: The role of discussion and experience in teachers' thinking about cases. Teaching and Teacher Education, 11(1), 63-79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louden, W. (1991). Understanding teaching: Continuity and change in teachers' knowledge. London: Cassell, and New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louden, W. (2000). Standards for standards: The development of Australian profes-sional standards for teaching. Australian Journal of Education, 44(2), 118-134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louden, W., & Wallace, J. (1993). Competency standards in teaching: Exploring the case. Unicorn, 19(1), 45-53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louden, W., & Wallace, J. (1996). Quality in the classroom: Learning about teaching through case studies. Sydney: Hodder Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louden, W., & Wildy, H. (1999a). Short shrift to long lists: An alternative approach to the development of performance standards for school principals. Journal of Educational Administration, 37(2), 99-120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louden, W., & Wildy, H. (1999b). 'Circumstance and proper timing': Context and the construction of a standards framework for school principals' performance. Educational Administration Quarterly, 35(3), 399-422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundeberg, M. A., Levin, B. B., & Harrington, H. L. (Eds.). (1999). Who learns what from cases and how? The research base for teaching and learning with cases. Mahwah, NJ: LEA Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). (1991). Towards hi gh and rigorous standards for teaching practice (3rd ed.). Detroit, MI: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). (1989). Standards for teach-ing mathematics. Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Project on the Quality of Teaching and Learning (NPQTL). (1996). National competency standards for beginning teaching. Sydney: Australian Teaching Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (NRC). (1996). National Science Education Standards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • New South Wales Department of Education and Training. (1998). Towards identifying professional teaching standards for New South Wales schools. Sydney: Department of Education and Training.

    Google Scholar 

  • New Standards. (1996). Performance standards. Washington, DC: New Standards.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ontario College of Teachers. (1999). Standards of practice for the teaching profession. Toronto, Ontario: Ontario College of Teachers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrosky, A. (1998). Insiders and outsiders: Teaching standards, national certification, assessment, and professional development. English in Australia, 122, 45-55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shulman, J. H., & Mesa-Bains, A. (1993). Diversity in the classroom. Hillsdale, NJ: LEA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shulman, L. S. (1986). Those who understand: Knowledge growth in teaching. Educational Researcher, 15(2), 4-14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siemon, D. (1999, November). Maths standards fact sheet. Paper presented at the Joint Conference of Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) and New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE), Melbourne, Australia.

  • Sockett, H. (1993). The moral base for teacher professionalism. New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teacher Training Agency. (1996). Key principles and draft national standards for new headteachers. Chelmsford, Essex: Teacher Training Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tom, A. (1983). Teaching as a moral craft. New York: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tripp, D. (1993) Critical incidents in teaching: Developing professional judgement. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Victorian Standards Council for the Teaching Profession. (1997). Professional stan-dards for teaching. Melbourne: Standards Council for the Teaching Profession.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, J., & Louden, W. (in press). Dilemmas of science teaching: Perspectives on problems of practice. London: RoutledgeFalmer.

  • Wallace, J., Wildy, H., & Louden, W. (1999). Selecting teachers for advanced certification: The Western Australian level 3 experience. Unicorn, 25(2), 24-36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wildy, H., & Louden, W. (2000). School restructuring and the dilemmas of princi-pals' work. Educational Management and Administration, 28(3), 173-184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wildy, H., Louden, W., & Robertson, J. (2000, April). Using cases for school principal performance standards: Australian and New Zealand experiences. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.

  • Wildy, H., Louden, W., & Wallace, J. (in press). Acknowledging exemplary classroom teaching practice: The standards idea in an Australian context. Leading and Managing.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Louden, W., Wallace, J. & Groves, R. Spinning a Web (Case) Around Professional Standards: Capturing the Complexity of Science Teaching. Research in Science Education 31, 227–244 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013130126345

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013130126345

Navigation