An Innovative Model for Science Teachers’ Continuous Professional Development based on Exploiting Multimedia and Web 2.0 Applications in Education

The rapid development of technology allows the introduction of new modes of transmission, processing and storage of information in educational practice, along with the development of new communication and socialization techniques. In view to make known some new opportunities of the information society, but also being useful for teachers, this paper proposes an innovative model for teachers’ continuous professional development – being particularly dedicated to teachers who act in the area of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. This model was tested and applied to a target group consisting of 1500 beneficiaries, in the frame of the project entitled: “ProWeb - A Network for Teachers’ Continuous Professional Development in order to Use Multimedia, Virtual Instrumentation and Web 2.0 in the Curricular Area of Mathematics and Natural Sciences†(POSDRU/157/1.3/S/141587). As result, participant teachers acquired new skills in integrating Web 2.0 applications (blogs, wikis, content distribution, social networks etc.) and multimedia educational software in effective learning tools, designed and developed by them in the format of demonstration lessons. The paper presents also the particularities of the continuous professional development program, developed in a blended learning system, pointing out on its original elements, starting with the e-learning platform that supported the whole training process, and ending with the evaluation and certification aspects. More, for assessing the effectiveness of the training process, the paper includes relevant data, obtained through an investigative impact study, performed on the target group.