Without a Whole: When Framed Agency in Cross-professional Partnership is Lost

This paper presents the outcomes from a research project where a complex set-up of professional development in school settings was carried out in partnerships between schools in two Danish municipalities, a teacher education university college and a university. The aim of the project was to develop an increased interest to natural sciences by creating what was conceptualised as a natural science mindset among teachers and students. This should be done through professional development of all teachers within the field of natural sciences to improve their competences to facilitate the students’ learning and motivation in authentic learning environments in the local area. Furthermore, the goal was to establish an internal collaboration within the school settings cross-over professions as well as external collaborations focusing on the surrounding business community. Here, the focus was to build bridges between schools and private communities to open up for new authentic learning environments. The role of the university college was to provide the schools with professional development and the role of the university was to evaluate the project through formative and summative approaches.