Incorporating museum experience into an in-service programme for science and technology teachers in Taiwan

This study presented a course on preparing in-service teachers to learn communication technology education and how to integrate museum resources into their teaching. The course was organised and conducted by a teacher educator and museum educator together. Forty-two participants enrolled in this course, including 29 elementary school teachers, nine senior high school teachers, and four future teachers. During the course, data were collected and analysed to address issues and problems emerged from the study and to assess if it is appropriate to be suggested for further adoption. The data sources included reflective journals, lesson plans and peers’ comments, video-tapes, and final reports. Findings, issues, and problems were presented and discussed including a lesson developed through an interdisciplinary approach. To be concluded, a professional development programme that will make changes need to include three important components: student involvement, heterogeneity of the participants, and role models provided by teacher educators.