TY - JOUR
T1 - Transforming STEM education in an innovative Australian School: The role of teachers' and academics' professional partnerships
AU - Bissaker, Kerry
PY - 2014/1
Y1 - 2014/1
N2 - The Australian Science and Mathematics School (ASMS) is a purpose-built innovative senior secondary school situated on the grounds of Flinders University, South Australia. The school was established to address declining enrollments in senior secondary mathematics and science, students' negative attitudes, a shortage of qualified science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers, and a curriculum that lacked relevance to contemporary life. Such research evidence called for transformation in STEM education and acknowledged that teachers' professional learning was central to achieving transformation. A key professional learning strategy employed by the school to transform STEM education was the engagement of teachers and academics as professional partners in developing interdisciplinary curriculum. The value and challenges of the professional partnership are explored in this article, noting the importance of valuing rather than dismissing dissonance between the groups.
AB - The Australian Science and Mathematics School (ASMS) is a purpose-built innovative senior secondary school situated on the grounds of Flinders University, South Australia. The school was established to address declining enrollments in senior secondary mathematics and science, students' negative attitudes, a shortage of qualified science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers, and a curriculum that lacked relevance to contemporary life. Such research evidence called for transformation in STEM education and acknowledged that teachers' professional learning was central to achieving transformation. A key professional learning strategy employed by the school to transform STEM education was the engagement of teachers and academics as professional partners in developing interdisciplinary curriculum. The value and challenges of the professional partnership are explored in this article, noting the importance of valuing rather than dismissing dissonance between the groups.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84892398030&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00405841.2014.862124
DO - 10.1080/00405841.2014.862124
M3 - Article
SN - 0040-5841
VL - 53
SP - 55
EP - 63
JO - Theory Into Practice
JF - Theory Into Practice
IS - 1
ER -