Theme 1: Knowledge building for a Knowledge Society Knowledge Building: A Trajectory

Fostering knowledge building community among practicing teachers Ching Sing Chai & Seng Chee Tan, National Institute of Education, Singapore

Poster Abstract This poster documents our effort in fostering Knowledge Building Community (KBC) among practicing teachers. Three modules of 24-hour in-service courses were devoted to help teachers in appropriating the knowledge building pedagogy. The teachers moved through a complete learning cycle of experiencing knowledge building, planning and implementing KBC in their classrooms, reflecting and improving their understanding of KBC in a common database where their lesson ideas, problems and reflections were shared. Preliminary results gathered from four of the participantsí interviews and postings indicate that the teachers appreciate the knwoledge building pedagogy and they are able to appropiate and implement some of the ideas advocated by KB. We believe that some strong-rooted teachers' beliefs fostered by the local educational context need to be addressed for further advancement of a knowledge building community.