Activating science teachers' knowledge and lifelong journey on their pprofessional development

Human resource development is the backbone to a nation economic devel6pment. In fact the two are so intricately intertwined that it is safe to say that the higher the nation's level of technical know-hows and supremacy, everything else the same, the higher is its state of economic development and vice versa. The starting point of a nation's technical and scientific advancement is traceable to appropriate science teacher training programmes ofthe nation. In the case of Malaysia, although several changes have been made in the past to suit and reflect the needs of the country's technical manpower requirements, it is regrettable to note that thus far the desirable results have not been promising. It is contended that the major shortcoming lies in the less than effective professional development of science teachers inservice program practiced in the counqy. Lack of innovativeness· of the programme and lack of aoility toteach with passion amongst science teachers probably are major reasons for this. Against this background and -in an effort to activate the science teachers' knowledge and lifelong journey of continuous, school-based professional development, the SMIT TeReC portal was embarked allowing the science teachers the opportunities for networking and the sharing of on-line materials.