A science teacher education course in a science centre: a successful strategy to empower teachers to master museum resources exploration?

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to understand the impacts of a science teacher training course, designed and implemented in a science centre, in teachers’ exploitation of the opportunities inherent to science centres learning contexts, through the evaluation of its impact. Data were collected through direct observation of the tutorial sessions and the school-visits organized and implemented by seven teachers. An online questionnaire was also applied to 38 participants in order to understand their perspectives about the course. The data was triangulated in order to make an evaluation of the course according to its effectiveness, efficiency, relevance and durability. Data showed that the development of a science teacher course by a science centre, proved to help teachers to capitalize on the opportunities these non-formal institutions offer to enrich and reinforce science school learning. Some improvements were suggested in order to achieve a greater effectiveness.