Digna Couso – författare

In August 2005, over 500 international researchers from the field of science education met at the 5th European Science Education Research Association conference in Barcelona, Spain.

Two of the main topics at this conference were: the decrease in the number of students interested in school science and concern about the worldwide outcomes of studies on students’ scientific literacy. At the conference, over 400 papers were presented, covering a wide range of topics relevant to science education research, such as evidence-based practice, teachers’ professional development, the role of ICT and multimedia, formal and informal learning environments, and argumentation and modelling in science education. This volume includes edited versions of 37 outstanding papers presented during the conference, including the lectures of the keynote speakers. They have been selected for their quality, variety and interest, and present a good overview of the field of science education research.

Teachers matter in school development is the premise of Professional Development and School Improvement, a book based on case studies from the European-funded project EUDIST (European Development of Innovative Science Teaching). The authors, from Austria, Germany, Spain, Ireland, and Sweden, present their national experiences and results from qualitative studies of educational planning in Curriculum Workshops and related science teacher professional development. In a cross-case study a European/Canadian writing team elaborates different aspects of European reform and teachers' chances to raise their voice in this process.