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STInt Directors Publish New Research On STEM Teacher Professional Learning

STInt Directors publish new research on STEM Teacher Professional Learning

STInt Directors Associate Professor Eilish McLoughlin and Professor Deirdre Butler, along with their co-author Dr.  Mairéad Hurley, publish new research on STEM teacher professional learning. In their article in the Journal for STEM Education Research, they examine programmes which offer either pre-service or in-service teachers immersive learning experiences through placements in STEM roles in business or industry. They posit that ‘for teachers to design rich learning experiences for their students, they must first have the opportunity to develop their own STEM knowledge and competences, either during their pre-service teacher education or as part of their professional learning as in-service teachers.’

In this piece, they make four recommendations for teacher education:
1. Develop a common understanding of STEM education between teachers, industry and university.
2. Support teachers in examining the role of STEM industries within wider societal contexts.
3. Collect evidence of the influence of placements on participating teachers and their students.
4. Create sustainable funding models and ongoing institutional, industry or government support for programmes.

Access the full article via: https://rdcu.be/c664E.

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