Supporting chemistry teachers’ formative assessment with a three-dimensional learning progression


CAN ARAN Ö., Furtak E. M., Buell J. Y.

International Journal of Science Education, 2024 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/09500693.2023.2291692
  • Journal Name: International Journal of Science Education
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Psycinfo
  • Keywords: Formative assessment, high school teachers, professional development program
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

International science education reforms seek to support teachers in using everyday assessment to draw out and work with student ideas; however, developing these instructional practices requires time and support. This paper investigates how a professional development program supported high school chemistry teachers to learn about formative assessment design with a learning progression for modelling energy. Five high school chemistry teachers participated over the course of one academic year, attending bimonthly school-based sessions in which they designed, enacted, and reflected upon formative assessment tasks. We used qualitative methods to analyze recordings of professional development meetings, videorecorded classroom observations, and interviews. Findings suggest that the professional development approach supported teachers’ learning about tools and routines of formative assessment with the learning progression, and in turn, they were able to apply this learning in their classroom practice.