AMCT'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL: A STRATEGY FOR IMPROVING THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OF PUERTO RICO

The objective of this research was to design and implement a model for teacher professional development. The model was implemented by the Turabo Mathematics and Science Alliance project (AMCT, Spanish acronym), which trains teachers. To test the model, a quasi-experimental design with a comparison group was followed. Pre- and post-tests were administered to both, the participants and the comparison group, through three years of implementation (2008-2011). The participating teachers in the experimental group, elementary school teachers (4 th to 6 th grade), showed significant improvements in their mastering of content knowledge, providing evidence to support the claim that the AMCT model for professional development is effective for the population of elementary school teachers of Puerto Rico. This model stems from a needs assessment, utilizes the state standards and, at its core, coordinates implementation with the faculty, emphasizing connections to the real world and promoting the assignment of, at least, 50% of each workshop to practice.

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