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Training to teach science: experimental evidence from Argentina

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Listed:
  • Facundo Albornoz
  • María Victoria Anauati
  • Melina Furman
  • Mariana Luzuriaga
  • María Eugenia Podestá
  • Inés Taylor

Abstract

This paper uses a RCT implemented in state schools in Argentina to estimate the learning impact and cost-effectiveness of different teacher training methods: structured curricula and coaching. Our findings suggest that there is a substantial gain in terms of learning for students with teachers being trained using structured curricula and coaching (between 55% and 64% of a standard deviation more than those students in the control group). Coaching teachers does not appear as a cost-effective intervention since the unit cost per 0.1 standard deviation is more than twice the cost of using a structured curriculum only. However, additional coaching is particularly relevant for relatively inexperienced teachers. A structured curriculum and coaching also affect perceptions: teachers enjoyed more teaching Science, they taught more hours of Science and students learned more and developed more skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Facundo Albornoz & María Victoria Anauati & Melina Furman & Mariana Luzuriaga & María Eugenia Podestá & Inés Taylor, 2017. "Training to teach science: experimental evidence from Argentina," Discussion Papers 2017-08, University of Nottingham, CREDIT.
    • Handle: RePEc:not:notcre:17/08
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    2. Marina Bassi & Costas Meghir & Ana Reynoso, 2020. "Education Quality and Teaching Practices," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 130(631), pages 1937-1965.
    3. Agostinelli, Francesco & Avitabile, Ciro & Bobba, Matteo, 2021. "Enhancing Human Capital at Scale," IZA Discussion Papers 14192, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Blimpo, Moussa P. & Pugatch, Todd, 2021. "Entrepreneurship education and teacher training in Rwanda," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    5. Blimpo, Moussa P. & Pugatch, Todd, 2023. "Unintended Consequences of Youth Entrepreneurship Programs: Experimental Evidence from Rwanda," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1332, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    6. Juan F. Castro & Paul Glewwe & Ricardo Montero, 2019. "Work With What You’ve Got: Improving Teachers’ Pedagogical Skills at Scale in Rural Peru," Working Papers 158, Peruvian Economic Association.

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    Keywords

    Science education; Teacher training; Experimental study;
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