Page 9 - Innovative Professional Development Methods and Strategies for STEM Education

Detailed Table of Contents

Preface.................................................................................................................................................xiv

Chapter 1
TheRoleoftheProfessionalDoctorateinDevelopingProfessionalPracticeinSTEMSubjects.......... 1
Peter Smith, University of Sunderland, UK
John Fulton, University of Sunderland, UK
Alastair Irons, University of Sunderland, UK
Gail Sanders, University of Sunderland, UK

Thischapterpresentsastudyintotheimpactoftheprofessionaldoctorateasalearningopportunityfor
STEMprofessionalsincludingengineers,pharmacists,nurses,STEMteachers,healthcareprofessionals,
andcomputingprofessionals.Theprofessionaldoctorateisarelativelynewapproachtodoctoralstudy,
whichhasmuchtooffertoSTEM.Thisformofdoctoralstudyencouragesthecandidatetoundertake
project work which is based in, and contributes to, their professional practice. The candidates are
experiencedpractitioners,whowishtoraisetheirpracticetodoctorallevel.Thischapterpresentsamixed
methodsstudy,whichhascollectedandanalyzedquantitativedataobtainedfromasurvey,qualitative
dataobtainedfromfocusgroupsessions,andin-depthnarrativeaccounts.Analysisofthesedatarevealed
anumberofthemesincludingtheimportanceoftrans-professionalworking,reflection,anddevelopment
of“authentic”professionalvoice.

Chapter 2
MentoringGirlsinScience:EightCaseStudiesofaScienceCampExperience................................. 17
Donna Farland-Smith, The Ohio State University, USA

Contentareaspecialists(scientists)areoftenrecruitedasmentorsofstudentstoaddressissuesinscience
education.Thesescientistsarefrequentlyrecruitedtohelpwiththeteachingofscience,however,quite
oftendonothavethepedagogyskillsneededtoberolemodelsforyoungchildren.Guidanceinthe
selectionappropriatementorswouldhelpmaximizethepotentialinfluenceonstudentsunderstanding
ofwhodoesscience,wherescienceisdoneandwhatscientistsdo.Thisstudyillustratessixcasestudies
ofscientistsastheyworkedwithmiddleschoolgirlsandidentifiesfivecharacteristicseducatorsshould
lookforinselectingsciencementorssuccessfulinbroadeningstudents’perceptionsofscientists.The