Empowering Chemistry Teachers' Learning: Practices and New Challenges

Abstract

Chemistry teachers hold the key to high-quality chemistry education. Given the constantly changing nature of chemistry and chemistry education, teachers need to continue to learn throughout their career. In this chapter, we focus on empowering chemistry teachers' professional learning by looking at preservice teacher education and continuing professional development. We review research to identify successful approaches to promote chemistry teacher learning. Next, we discuss specific areas that present challenges to chemistry teachers, in particular, context-based teaching, teaching about models and modeling, and using computer-based technologies. Subsequently, we address what is needed for c..