Abstract
Effective Strategies of Teacher Professional Development Focused on Geospatial Technologies
Track: User Presentations - Teaching
Authors: Cathlyn Stylinski, Caroline Parker, Carla McAuliffe
Geospatial technologies (GST) offer many benefits for K-12 classrooms but present significant challenges for teachers. We examined design of teacher professional development projects focused on GST and other real-world technology applications. We found that these projects applied features regularly cited in the literature, such as opportunities for teacher collaborations and reflection; a focus on content knowledge and curriculum; proximity to practice; and extended duration. We also identified three key strategies of these projects that were unique or not typically emphasized: (1) expanded collaborations that included professionals, local citizens and students as team members, (2) authentic experiences that immersed teachers in professional practices, tools and contexts related to GST and other technologies, and (3) integration of out-of-school experiences with youth into the professional development. Our findings provide insight and guidance for teacher educators and researchers on professional development supporting integration of GST and other real-world technology applications in K-12 classrooms.