Packaging constructivist science teaching in a curriculum resource

This paper outlines research that assessed the effectiveness of a curriculum package combined with a professional development program in promoting constructivist science teaching. Six high school science teachers from three schools attended professional development workshops and attempted to implement a science curriculum package which included an emphasis on a constructivist approach (the 5Es) and cooperative learning. The findings suggest that teachers were the critical factor in curriculum innovation, that professional development and the curriculum package influenced implementation, and that a hierarchy of skill and knowledge acquisition is associated with constructivist teaching. In some cases, the curriculum package seemed to improve teaching and learning, in other cases good teaching and learning were hindered.