Table 2 Overview of the NJ State Standards, intervention topics, activities, and readings used in the teacher professional development workshop
From: The Long-Term Impacts of Short-Term Professional Development: Science Teachers and Evolution
| Day | Major topic and NJ Standards | Topics | Activities | Readings and reflections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Science practices (Standard 5.1) | Student learning and assessment | Video: Private Universe | McComas (1996) |
| Prior knowledge and alternative conceptions | Nature of Science Interviews | Abd-El-Khalick and Lederman (2000) | ||
| Introduction to the nature of science (observation, inference, theory, law, etc.). | Developing NOS formative assessments | NOS alternative conceptions reflection essay | ||
| Day 2 | Science practices (Standard 5.1) | Nature of science (continued) | Black box activity | Collins and Pinch (1998) |
| Scientific models and modeling | Model testing activity | |||
| Types of experiments in science | Textbook analysis of NOS concepts | |||
| Day 3 | Heredity and reproduction (5.3.D) | Causes of variation; heredity patterns | DNA from the beginning (Cold Spring Harbor online activities) | Driver et al. (1994) |
| Sexual reproduction and genetics | Genetics formative assessment development | |||
| Day 4 | Heredity and reproduction (5.3.D) | DNA, transcription, translation | Linking NOS and genetics lessons | Driver et al. (1994) |
| Mendel’s laws of heredity and NOS | Case study of the discovery of Huntington’s disease | Genetics alternative conceptions reflection essay | ||
| From observable phenotypic patterns to unobservable genetic causes | Genetics formative assessment development (revisions) | |||
| Day 5 | Heredity and reproduction (5.3.D) | Genetics and reproduction activities | Piloting genetics formative assessments | Gregory (2009) |
| Natural selection key concepts | Pollination and Lily sexual reproduction | |||
| Evolution and diversity (5.3.E) | Typological thinking and essentialism | Mendels law’s in corn cobs | ||
| Day 6 | Evolution and diversity (5.3.E) | Natural selection key concepts | M&M natural selection activity | Gregory (2009) |
| History of corn domestication | Natural selection formative assessment development | Natural selection alternative conceptions reflective essay | ||
| Snail scales of phenotypic variation | ||||
| Day 7 | Interdependence (5.3.C) | Plants, animals, energy, and matter | Carnations and water flow | Driver et al. (1994) |
| Photosynthesis and respiration | Peace Lily leaves | Photosynthesis alternative conceptions reflective essay | ||
| Transpiration and water relations | Sun and shade leaf patterns | |||
| Transpiration patterns | ||||
| Day 8 | Interdependence (5.3.C) | Review and synthesis | Question and discussions about content | Formative assessment revisions |