What kinds of problems might a teacher experience if he or she tried to implement the IAT curricula without Professional Development?
Without proper guidance in the curriculum, it is hard to understand the “what, why, and how” of inquiry-based learning. Teachers cannot understand how to effectively teach this curriculum by simply perusing our books. IAT’s Professional Development offers teachers an in-depth insight into our pedagogy. It also helps teachers anticipate classroom and materials management issues before they arise. To effectively teach inquiry, a teacher must first change his or her role in the classroom. Instead of lecturing students from the front of the room, the instructor must facilitate a whole-class discussion that guides students through their own learning processes. Professional Development helps teachers understand exactly how inquiry leads students to higher-level thinking. It ensures that teachers have the knowledge they need to properly assess their students. Teachers who opt not to take our Professional Development run the risk of “morphing” the program into a more traditional science class
