Mathematics

The role of informal science institutions in teacher education
J. Dillon
Head of the Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol, UK
In many countries, preservice and inservice teacher education take place
under the aegis of university/school partnerships. There is a danger, perhaps,
that such a system perpetuates some of the weaknesses in the formal
education system. In the US, a significant amount of professional development
takes place in museums and science centres and has done for many years. A
number of EU projects have provided opportunities for exploring the possible
affordances of such informal science learning institutions.
This talk described some of the strategies that have been used in projects
such as FEAST (Facilitating the Engagement of Adults in Science and
Technology) and INQUIRE (which focused on teacher education in botanic
gardens). A number of issues emerged from those and other projects which
might assist in the development of more integrated approaches to teacher
education across formal and informal institutions.
Biography
After taking a degree in chemistry from the University of
Birmingham, Justin Dillon trained to be a teacher at
Chelsea College (University of London). He taught in six
London schools over a period of 10 years with spells as
Head of Chemistry and Head of Science. During this
time he studied for an MA (Science Education). Prof.
Dillon joined King’s in 1989 as a Lecturer in Science
Education. He was Deputy Director of the PGCE
(Postgraduate Certificate in Education) from 1992-5 and Director of
International Education from 1995-2003. In 2006 Prof. Dillon was appointed
Senior Lecturer in Science and Environmental Education having completed his
PhD and he was awarded a personal Chair in 2010. He has been Head of the
Science and Technology Education Group since 2007. Together with two
colleagues, Prof. Dillon coordinated the ESRC’s (Economic and Social
Research Council) Targeted Initiative on Science and Mathematics Education
and he has directed King’s involvement in a number of research projects
including PENCIL, INQUIRE, FEAST and IRIS. He co-edits the International
Journal of Science Education and was President of the European Science
Education Research Association from 2007-11.
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