1. elearning in initial science teachers education
elearning in initial science
teachers education
Maria João Loureiro
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

2. elearning in initial science teachers education
topics
context of the study
underlying principles
teaching methodology
data gathering
preliminary results
reflections
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

3. elearning in initial science teachers education
context of the study - Portugal (EU)
Oporto
Aveiro
Coimbra
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

4. elearning in initial science teachers education
context (U. Aveiro)
• created in 1973
• 10 to 11.000 students
• courses (grad and pos-
grad)
teachers education
sciences, math, …
engineering
health
…
• member of the European
Consortium of Innovative
Universities
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

5. elearning in initial science teachers education
context (initial teachers education)
science/technology teachers education
Phy/Chemistry, Bio/ Geology, Elec/Informatics didactic course
(2004/05) - 1th sem., 4th year
4 hours/week
2T (all students – lectures) + 2TP (students divided by domain –
group work)
course aim
development of S/T teaching competencies
61 students, 5 teachers
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

6. elearning in initial science teachers education
context (initial teachers education)
Science/Tech Didactics
al
ic
S/T and teaching S/T
Research domains
se ret
(context)
ba eo
s
Alt.
Th
STS/PR Exp
Conc. Psychological Social
work
Epistemic
Teaching perspectives
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

7. elearning in initial science teachers education
underlying principles
life-long learning - diversity learning spaces
students construct content/knowledge
rather than consume it
social interactions is a growing part of learning
learning can occur out of sequence
although lectures or other forms of information presentation are
deliberate sequentially
competencies development - higher order
thinking
analysis, questioning, establishing relations…
the use of technology is natural (digital natives)
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

8. elearning in initial science teachers education
tasks organization
1st week 2th week
Bb forum - TP structure Bb forum - TP group work
presentation presentation (ppt)
and discussion and discussion
presentations
classroom classroom
bibliography
work
guidelines 3th week =
1st of following subject
Bb content
area final report delivery
Bb content area
Bb forum (T)
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

9. elearning in initial science teachers education
learning spaces
Bb forums
(“public”, formal)
Bb e-Mail Library
(private, formal) (“public”, non-formal)
Classroom
(“public”, formal)
WWW
Home
Bb cont. areas (private, informal)
(“public”, formal)
Social spaces
(private, informal)
Adapted from Milne (2006)
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

10. elearning in initial science teachers education
preliminary data
data gathering technique - Bb logs
378 (messages), 8194 (hits)
satisfactory interaction - active students rate (378/43=8,8) vs
enrolled students rate (378/61=6,2)
forums interactions depended on:
subject in itself
teachers attitudes towards ICT use (two of the five prof.)
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

11. elearning in initial science teachers education
preliminary data
students satisfaction
- data gathering technique: questionnaire
26 respondents out of 61 students enrolled in the course
- platform (Bb) use: 1th experience (65%)
easy to use (61%)
course and site organisation good (92%)
more interaction both between students and teach/students (73%)
advantages: sharing is a very important issue (80%)
work organisation is also facilitated (77%)
group work organisation as well (50%)
more flexibility (73%)
collaborative work (69%)
face-to-face where essential (non native students)
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

12. elearning in initial science teachers education
preliminary data
teachers reflections
- data gathering: interviews (3 teachers)
- platform advantages
material delivery and access is easier
enrichment of interaction
development of collaboration between students (teacher comp.) -
positive competition
students questioning is higher (teacher comp.)
diversity of topics to be discussed, proposed by the students (teacher
comp.)
allows formative peer-assessment (teacher comp.)
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

13. elearning in initial science teachers education
preliminary data
teachers reflections
- data gathering: interviews (3 teachers)
- advantages for the teachers, although more work load
iii) development of interaction management competencies
iv) deepening the comprehension of our own practices
v) collaboration between teachers increased
vi) students’ evolution, need and difficulties are easy to follow
vii) formative assessment increased (teachers and peer-assessment)
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

14. elearning in initial science teachers education
final thoughts
ICT integration involves pedagogical and content
knowledge as well as technological knowledge
interaction must be part of the assessment framework
contributions
useful HE teaching methodology
valuable teachers’ reflections, methodology and instruments for
the evaluation of online teaching
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro

15. elearning in initial science teachers education
thank you for your attention
questions???
E-Learn 2007 Conference, Québec – Loureiro, Bettencourt, Souza e Marques
CIDTFF, DDTE, Universidade de Aveiro