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Teacher Professional Development Through a Collaborative Curriculum Project – an Example of TPACK in Maine

  • EcoScienceWorks
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Abstract

Maine’s one-to-one laptop program provides an ideal opportunity to explore conditions that optimize teacher integration of technology-focused curriculum into the classroom. EcoScienceWorks (ESW) is an ecology curriculum that includes targeted simulations and a code block programming challenge developed through an NSF-ITEST grant. The project was designed as a collaboration that included simulation software developers; middle school science teachers; the Maine laptop program; environmental educators; an external evaluator; and a lead organization experienced in teacher guided curriculum development. Thus, each of the elements of TPACK (technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge) worked together to produce the final ecology simulation-centered curriculum. In 2008–2009, the ESW curriculum became available statewide through the Maine laptop program. Partner teachers have transitioned their classrooms to more learning-centered environments through the use of technology and have become teacher leaders. The collaborative approach to technology focused curriculum development used in this project is a model for TPACK professional development.

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By Walter C. Allan, Jeryl L. Erickson, Phil Brookhouse, and Judith L. Johnson

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By Walter C. Allan, Jeryl L. Erickson, Phil Brookhouse, and Judith L. Johnson. Teacher Professional Development Through a Collaborative Curriculum Project – an Example of TPACK in Maine. TECHTRENDS TECH TRENDS 54, 36–43 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-010-0452-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-010-0452-x

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