Continuous teacher training within the scope of experimental science teaching – reflection as a strategy for improving practices in the Second Cycle of Basic Education

• Autor(a) principal: Reis, Susana Alexandre dos
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Outros Autores: Vieira, Rui Marques
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.34624/id.v8i1.3112

The present study is focused on the role of reflection to improve science teachers’ practices, during the implementation of the “In-Service education program for science teachers in experimental science education for the 2nd Cycle of Basic Education”. This program was conducted in a collaborative setting, between the researcher-trainer and teacher-trainees, and it emphasised the role of oral reflections, between the participants, towards the effective implementation of practical and experimental activities with students from those grades. The design of the present research was of a qualitative nature, aiming to comprehend the training process of four female teachers during their continuous education. For that purpose, a case study of descriptive-interpretative nature was employed. Audio recordings of the oral reflections, between the trainer and teacher-trainees, were made and these were subsequently transcribed. Analysis was done, on the one hand, on the answers obtained from an evaluation questionnaire, focusing on this continuous education programme; and, on the other hand, on the portfolios of each of the four teacher-trainees. Content analysis, conducted on the collected data, suggests that the four teacher-trainees emphasise the essential role of the oral reflection between them and the trainer, since it allowed them to identify positive and less positive aspects of their classroom practices, highlighting the questioning role of the teacher, and thus promoting reflection about the implemented teaching practices. Results show, accordingly, the importance of reflection as a training strategy for the personal, professional and social development of Science teachers from the 2nd Cycle of Basic Education.