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Peer-reviewed article

'Operation Magpie': Inspiring Teachers' Professional Learning Through Environmental Science

July 1, 2012 | Public Programs, Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks, Informal/Formal Connections

Operation Magpie was a citizen science project that involved the community in collecting data about magpies. This article describes one aspect of the project from an education perspective. The study began with a collaboration of teacher educators, environmental scientists and a local radio station. After an initial workshop with 75 teachers, three teacher educators met regularly with 13 primary teachers who each volunteered to plan and teach a unit of work on birds. Meeting regularly in focus groups, the teachers shared their pedagogical strategies that supported students to connect with their local environment. Findings include the importance of focused professional learning for teachers through ongoing, needs-based support during the planning and teaching of the unit, and the innovative ways that teachers approached the unit. One unexpected finding was that teachers tended to identify student learning in terms of the English curriculum rather than the science curriculum.

TEAM MEMBERS

  • Yvonne Zeegers
    Author
    University of South Australia
  • Kathryn Paige
    Author
    University of South Australia
  • David Lloyd
    Author
    University of South Australia
  • Philip Roetman
    Author
    University of South Australia
  • Citation

    ISSN : 0814-0626
    DOI : 10.1017/aee.2012.4
    Publication Name: Australian Journal of Environmental Education
    Volume: 28
    Number: 1
    Page Number: 27
    Resource Type: Research Products
    Discipline: Ecology, forestry, and agriculture | Education and learning science | Literacy
    Audience: Educators/Teachers | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Public Programs | Citizen Science Programs | Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks | Professional Development and Workshops | Informal/Formal Connections | K-12 Programs

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