Professional Development of Physics Teachers in an Evidence-Based Blended Learning Program |
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| Authors: | Hana Berger Bat-Sheva Eylon and Esther Bagno |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Science Teaching, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel |
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| Abstract: | The present study examined continuity of learning between face-to-face and online environments in a “blended” professional
development program designed for 16 physics teachers. The program had nine face-to-face meetings as well as continuous online
exchanges between them through a website. The program focused on “knowledge integration” (KI) innovative activities in physics
classes using an “evidence-based” approach: The teachers implemented the activities, collected and analyzed data about their
practice and their students’ learning, and reflected on the evidence with their peers. Five reflective tools were used to
promote continuity: Your Comments, Hot Polls, Smashing Sentences, Hot Reports, and Mini Research. Continuity was assessed with regard to the ideas discussed by the teachers and the reasoning patterns that they employed.
Analysis of the online exchanges in relation to teachers’ face-to-face discourse revealed that the teachers discussed the
same ideas (KI, evidence and learner-centered pedagogies), employed the same reasoning patterns (e.g., forming generalizations),
and extended ideas in re-visitation. The online and face-to-face environments played different and complementary roles in
the teachers’ learning. This study shows that appropriate use of an online environment in a blended program can lead to a
continuous course of learning and can transform a “9 once-a-month-meetings” workshop into a “9-month” workshop. |
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| Keywords: | Blended learning Online tools Continuous learning Professional development Evidence-based Knowledge integration Physics |
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