A Case Study of Science Teachers Enacting Inquiry-Based Activities after a Workshop: Findings from the Coupon for Teacher Development Project

Abstract

Workshop has been a main activity for teacher professional development in Thailand. However, many workshops were often held without a follow-up for its consequence on teachers’ teaching practices, leaving the teachers not changing their teaching practices. Research in teacher professional development suggests monitoring, supporting, and providing feedback to teachers after the workshop. The Coupon for Teacher Development Project is a kind of teacher professional development activity that includes a supportive mechanism for teachers in form of coaching after a workshop. This case study is under the Coupon for Teacher Development Project, aiming at monitoring how six science teachers enacted their instruction after a workshop focusing on teaching and learning with scientific inquiry. Data were records of instructional activities conducted by each teacher. The researchers analyzed the data by comparing the teachers’ instructional activities with those they engaged in during the workshop. This case study reveals that, despite attending the same workshop at the same time, each teacher enacted inquiry-based activities in different ways. This research suggests that each teacher needs different kinds of support. Future research should find out appropriate ways to coach each teacher.