Professional Development of In-service Primary Teachers in Environmental Education: an action research approach

This paper deals with an attempt to organize a university research-based course the aim of which is to promote in-service primary teachers' professional development in environmental education. The decision to engage them in participatory action research was made after a careful investigation of the factors that seem to discourage them from becoming involved in environmental education. From the results that have come out of the evaluation, the process that was followed appears to be a promising way for empowering teachers to overcome existing obstacles, so as to promote environmental education. The various problems that crop up in the running of such a course are identified and some suggestions for their resolution are offered.