Includes bibliographical references (p. 277-304) and index.

Preliminary Material / Marc J. de Vries , Hanno van Keulen , Sylvia Peters and Juliette Walma van der Molen -- Introduction to the theme / Wynne Harlen and Pierre Léna -- Introduction to Part I / Hanno van Keulen -- Science and technology education for the future / Liesbeth Baartman and Koeno Gravemeijer -- What everyone should know about science and technology / Ellen Rohaan and Hanno van Keulen -- A science and technology knowledge base for primary teachers / Ed van den Berg and Hanno van Keulen -- \'Having eyes, giving eyes, receiving eyes\' / Henderien Steenbeek , Paul van Geert , Nena Hageman , Rutger Meissner , Sabine van Vondel , Kees Broekhof and Hans Cohen de Lara -- Introduction to Part II / Juliette Walma van der Molen -- Primary teachers’ attitudes towards science and technology / Lieke Asma , Juliette Walma van der Molen and Sandra Van Aalderen-Smeets -- Explicit and implicit measures of teacher attitudes towards science and technology / Eddie Denessen , Nienke Vos , Tom Damen , Severine Koch , Louws Monika and Daniël Wigboldus -- Understanding the physical world: teacher and pupil attitudes towards science and technology / Charlotte van Cleynenbreugel , Veerle de Winter , Evelien Buyse and Ferre Laevers -- Preservice primary teachers’ image of and attitude towards science and technology / Johan P. de Wilde , Ellen Sjoer and Marc J. de Vries -- Introduction to Part III / Marc J. de Vries -- Concept learning in professional development / Marja-Ilona Koski and Marc J. de Vries -- Preparing teachers to teach robotics in primary schools / Lou Slangen , Hanno van Keulen and Koeno Gravemeijer -- High quality interaction in science and technology education / Resi Damhuis and Akke de Blauw -- Kindergarten talk about science and technology / Lotte F. Henrichs , Paul P.M. Leseman , Kees Broekhof and Hans Cohen de Lara -- Introduction to Part IV / Sylvia A. F. Peters -- Characteristics of effective professional development for primary science and technology / Martina van Uum and Koeno Gravemeijer -- Transparency in storytelling: an analysis of primary school teachers’ exchanges of their experiences with science and technology education / Ellen Sjoer and Jacobine Meirink -- Effects of a digital learning environment on knowledge and attitude of student teachers / Eliane Segers , Marieke Peeters , Heleen Strating , Cindy Teunissen and Ludo Verhoeven -- References / Marc J. de Vries , Hanno van Keulen , Sylvia Peters and Juliette Walma van der Molen -- Index / Marc J. de Vries , Hanno van Keulen , Sylvia Peters and Juliette Walma van der Molen.

This book presents the research output of the Dutch project VTB-Pro, an internationally-oriented project that aimed at providing primary school teachers with the knowledge, abilities and attitudes that are necessary to implement science and technology education in their classes. An introductory chapter by Wynne Harlen and Pierre Lena positions this project in the international context. From the Foreword by Dr. Michel Rocard: I have been pleased to discover the VTB-Pro three?years project carried in the Netherlands (Broadening technological education in primary school). Focusing on professional development of teachers and presenting first hand testimonies and research, the present book demonstrates how to deal with this issue, so critical for a renewed pedagogy. With proper methods, the knowledge of science, the interest in science and technology, the pedagogical skills can all be improved among teachers who often have no or little affection for science.