Science teacher education at a distance

Abstract

Abstract The nation's school reform agenda focuses on fundamental changes in schools and teachers; science education has been identified as a key area for these changes. However, science teachers in rural schools often are at a disadvantage for receiving necessary continuing education. Telecommunications technology can provide these teachers with access to current information in science education; it also allows teacher educators to model desirable science teaching strategies. This article reports on a pilot project that used interactive videoconferencing to provide hands‐on instruction to science teachers at various rural sites and computer conferencing to link participants for coursework, networking, and access to resources.