Session 23

Creating a network of small schools to enhance science teaching and learning : Projet PEER (Petites écoles en réseau)

Session Description:

The use of Internet technologies offers new perspectives in the implementation and reinforcement of teacher training and support strategies that can aid teachers who often feel isolated and overwhelmed especially in rural areas. “Traditional” professional development approaches have been cited as inadequate and are viewed as being pockets of innovation without the necessary time and support for learning and do not necessarily conform to learning outcomes (Lee, 2005).

The presentation, Creating a network of small schools to enhance science teaching and learning: Projet PEER (Petites écoles en réseau) describes a model of teacher professional development and the exploration of the use of Internet technological tools to promote teacher sharing and collaboration. This research seeks to understand the factors impacting on teachers and students in the rural, small school, minority language setting and to explore the potential of Internet technologies to provide a “protective” element to support the teaching and learning of science. An anticipated outcome of these projects will be the increased resilience of teachers through the sustained support of the professional development strategies incorporating Internet technologies.

The project incorporates an interpretive case study approach in order to study how technology can be integrated into professional development strategies that take into account the specific needs of science teachers in a minority language context. As a factor of protection, the use of technology to link teachers and communities holds a lot of potential for teachers dealing with risk factors such as isolation, lack of resources and professional support. Working collaboratively is an effective means for developing professionally especially for those working in rural settings (Gerber, Price, Barnes, Hinkle, Barnes, Gordon & Stanley, 2003) and the use of technology can assist in making this collaboration a reality.

Presenter: Rodelyn Stoeber

Rodelyn Stoeber is currently a professor at the Faculty of Education at St. Boniface College. Besides being involved on collaborative projects with the Bureau de l’éducation française (BEF) and the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine, she also teaches courses in curriculum and instruction in secondary and elementary science, in evaluation and provides technology instruction and support to pre-service teachers.