Abstract:
This study investigated the effect of a 5-day summer astronomy institute on K-12
in-service teachers’ content knowledge in astronomy. Sixty teachers voluntarily
completed a pre and post Test Of Astronomy STandards (TOAST) assessment instrument
and supplemental information survey. Analysis of the data indicate that the elementary
and middle-school teachers who participated in the workshop lacked sufficient astronomy
content knowledge and self-reported low confidence in their ability to teach astronomy
content. Elementary and middle school teachers’ content knowledge, and self-reported
confidence, was positively influenced by the professional development program. By
comparison, high school teachers scored higher on both the pre and post assessments and
self-reported confidence to teach astronomy content. Implications of these results on
future professional development opportunities are suggested.