Context Dependence of Teacher Practices in Middle School Science
written by
Noah S. Podolefsky and Katherine Perkins
Conventional wisdom is that teachers have a model of teaching that they enact in the classroom. We studied middle school science teachers and found that the conventional wisdom does not explain large variations in practices for the same teachers in different contexts. During a study of PhET simulations, we observed two teachers in their regular (non-sim) classes and then in after-school classes in which they used PhET sims and activities developed by the PhET group. These activities were designed to be student-centered and inquiry-based. We find that one teacher led student-centered, inquiry-based activity in their regular classes but, in the after-school classes, controlled the classroom so that the sim activities were teacher-centered. The other teacher led teacher-centered regular classes, while enacting the sim activities in student-centered ways. We observe that teachers' practices can be significantly different across contexts, suggesting a sophisticated view of teacher practice is needed.
Physics Education Research Conference 2011
Part of the PER Conference series Omaha, Nebraska: August 3-4, 2011 Volume 1413, Pages 299-302
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![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=11694">Podolefsky, Noah S., and Katherine Perkins. "Context Dependence of Teacher Practices in Middle School Science." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, August 3-4, 2011.</a>
![]() N. Podolefsky and K. Perkins, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, 2011, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11694&DocID=2571).
![]() N. Podolefsky and K. Perkins, Context Dependence of Teacher Practices in Middle School Science, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, 2011, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11694&DocID=2571>.
![]() Podolefsky, N., & Perkins, K. (2011, August 3-4). Context Dependence of Teacher Practices in Middle School Science. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11694&DocID=2571
![]() Podolefsky, Noah S., and Katherine Perkins. "Context Dependence of Teacher Practices in Middle School Science." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, August 3-4, 2011. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11694&DocID=2571 (accessed 1 May 2025).
![]() Podolefsky, Noah S., and Katherine Perkins. "Context Dependence of Teacher Practices in Middle School Science." Physics Education Research Conference 2011. Omaha, Nebraska: 2011. 299-302 Vol. 1413 of PER Conference. 1 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11694&DocID=2571>.
![]() @inproceedings{
Author = "Noah S. Podolefsky and Katherine Perkins",
Title = {Context Dependence of Teacher Practices in Middle School Science},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2011},
Pages = {299-302},
Address = {Omaha, Nebraska},
Series = {PER Conference},
Volume = {1413},
Month = {August 3-4},
Year = {2011}
}
![]() %A Noah S. Podolefsky %A Katherine Perkins %T Context Dependence of Teacher Practices in Middle School Science %S PER Conference %V 1413 %D August 3-4 2011 %P 299-302 %C Omaha, Nebraska %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11694&DocID=2571 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2011 %O August 3-4 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Conference Proceedings %A Podolefsky, Noah S. %A Perkins, Katherine %D August 3-4 2011 %T Context Dependence of Teacher Practices in Middle School Science %B Physics Education Research Conference 2011 %C Omaha, Nebraska %V 1413 %P 299-302 %S PER Conference %8 August 3-4 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11694&DocID=2571 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
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