Articles | Volume 4, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-33-2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-33-2021
Research article
 | 
10 Feb 2021
Research article |  | 10 Feb 2021

The value of short Earth science continuing professional development for trainee primary school teachers

Denise Balmer

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Subject: Geoscience education | Keyword: Communication theories
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Cited articles

Aalderen-Smeets, S. and van der Molden, W.: Measuring primary science teachers' attitudes toward teaching science, Int. J. Sci. Educ., 35, 577–600, 2013. 
Abrahams, I. and Reiss, M. J.: Practical work: its effectiveness in primary and secondary schools in England, J. Res. Sci. Teach., 49, 1035–1055, 2012. 
Adey, P., Hewitt, G., Hewitt, J., and Landau, N. The professional development of teachers: practice and theory, in: Professional development for cognitive acceleration: intuition, Kluwer Academic Publishers, London, Chapter 4, 17–30, ISBN 978-1-4020-2005-6, 2004. 
Balmer, D.: The potential of earth science for the development of primary school science, PhD thesis, UCL, London, UK, 2019. 
Braun, V. and Clarke, V.: Using thematic analysis in psychology, Quality Research in Psychology, 3, 77–101, 2006. 
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Short summary
Earth science (rocks, soils, etc.) is often a subject area that causes concern for many primary school teachers and trainees who lack confidence in teaching it. The article describes and analyses the workshops offered by the Earth Science Education Unit led by enthusiastic Earth scientists. The reactions by participants to the appropriate level of practical suggestions, using cheap resources, shows how continuing professional development workshops provide valuable confidence-building sessions.
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