Workshop Reports and Proceedings
Order Code: WR3
Professional Development for Science and Mathematics
Education:
Putting Knowledge into Action.
A Synopsis of the First Annual Forum of the National Institute for Science Education
Peter Hewson and Susan Loucks-Horsley
Introduction
This synopsis is the result of the First Annual Forum of the National Institute for Science Education (NISE) held in Rosslyn, Virginia, on March 18-19, 1996. The Forum's purposes are to make relevant professional audiences aware of the NISE work and, just as importantly, to gain those audiences' perspectives on and participation in NISE work.
At the First Annual Forum, 235 people gathered to explore a vital issue in mathematics and science reform—professional development—and to discuss the topics under study at the new National Institute for Science Education. This synopsis includes the content, process, and discussions of the professional development component of the Forum.
The Forum's primary purposes were to (1) extend and strengthen understanding of practices and issues in professional development and implications for design of more effective programs and initiatives in mathematics and science education and (2) build a learning community of those seeking ongoing interaction around professional development practices and issues. A secondary purpose was to design a conference that modeled many of the principles of effective professional development.
This synopsis includes a discussion of the following elements of the Forum:
a framework for design of science and mathematics education professional development currently being developed by the NISE Professional Development team,
cases of professional development,
critical issues in professional development,
the Forum itself as an application of the design framework, and
building and supporting a science and mathematics education professional development learning community