Current Situation and Training of Chinese Elementary School Science Teachers in the Context of Education for Sustainable Development

Science education is an important means to improve citizens’ scientific literacy, build an innovative country, and enhance the country’s core competitiveness. Since the 1980s, science education has been on the right track. China has successively promulgated and implemented a series of laws and regulations related to science education, which have greatly promoted its development in China. This chapter reviews the development of science education as part of China’s basic education in the twenty-first century, analyzes the current situation and training in terms of science education, and reflects on Chinese science teachers’ courses of training in the context of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The training entails regular ESD training and online/offline blended learning that compiles ESD and science education training materials (Shi, 2021). It helps teachers develop lessons in a way that would enable students to translate them into real-world experiences; it also helps teachers implement science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education to improve their professional level and guides them to carry out local ESD and research. The change in science curriculum goals has promoted changes in scientific learning methods, enabling teachers and students to embrace an active learning approach that explores and practices learning, facilitates cooperation and communication, and focuses on solving practical problems. Thus, the new method of implementation helps improve professional development and the overall quality of science teachers in the new era.