Examining the Relationship Between Elementary Teachers' Science Self-efficacy and Science Content Knowledge PDF Download

Author: Mary Jo Wimsatt
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
ABSTRACT: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education is currently commanding an ever-greater share of our national dialogue about education. Very few STEM initiatives focus on studies involving in-service teachers; most education research involves preservice teacher candidates. This researcher used a 54 question survey to examine in-service elementary teachers' science content knowledge and self-efficacy constructs. The instrument combines Enochs and Riggs' (1990) Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Instrument (STEBI) with the researcher's content knowledge instrument created from a northwest Florida school district's science textbook series. The researcher's instrument was created to access participants' science content knowledge so the results can be compared to science self-efficacy results from the STEBI. The results of this study show there is a statistically significant relationship between the teachers' science self-efficacy and science content knowledge. The researcher concluded that in order to increase in-service teachers' science self-efficacy, district and school personnel need to increase opportunities for teachers to improve their science content knowledge.

Author: Barry J. Fraser
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1402090412
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 1516

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Book Description
The International Handbook of Science Education is a two volume edition pertaining to the most significant issues in science education. It is a follow-up to the first Handbook, published in 1998, which is seen as the most authoritative resource ever produced in science education. The chapters in this edition are reviews of research in science education and retain the strong international flavor of the project. It covers the diverse theories and methods that have been a foundation for science education and continue to characterize this field. Each section contains a lead chapter that provides an overview and synthesis of the field and related chapters that provide a narrower focus on research and current thinking on the key issues in that field. Leading researchers from around the world have participated as authors and consultants to produce a resource that is comprehensive, detailed and up to date. The chapters provide the most recent and advanced thinking in science education making the Handbook again the most authoritative resource in science education.

Author: Heather Christa Scott
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic dissertations
Languages : en
Pages : 159

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Book Description
Author's abstract: Developing learners who are equipped to think critically about the vast information circulating around them is essential in their preparation for a role in society today. The use of effective inquiry-based instruction is not a widespread practice among K-12 classrooms. Many secondary and post-secondary science instructors see the valuable link between students asking questions and the development of critical thinking. Inquiry-based instruction provides student opportunities to ask questions, design methods of investigation, gather information, and finally reach conclusions based on evidence. However, this instruction style is rarely used in the classroom, particularly in elementary classrooms. This study examines the relationships between inquirybased instruction, science content knowledge and self-efficacy among pre-service elementary teachers. Using a mixed method (Quan. /qual.) study, the researcher examined two Life/Earth science classes of elementary pre-service teachers using inquiry-based and traditional instruction. Each class completed pre-assessment instruments to measure initial content knowledge, self-efficacy in science teaching, and the number of prior science courses. The first eight weeks of the semester during life science content, one class received inquiry-based instruction, while the other class received traditional instruction. At the midpoint of the semester, each class completed a posttest for life science content and a self-efficacy instrument modified to address efficacy in life science. Following this, a crossover method occurred for the remaining eight weeks of the semester during earth science content. The class that previously received inquiry instruction now received traditional instruction and the class that previously received traditional instruction, now received inquiry instruction. At the end of the semester, each class completed a posttest for earth science content and a self-efficacy instrument modified to address efficacy in earth science. ANCOVA, correlations, and independent t-tests were used to analyze the quantitative data. Focus group interviews of volunteers from each class were used to gather qualitative data on what pre-service teachers think about inquiry versus traditional instruction. The results showed a significant difference in life science content between inquiry-based and traditional instruction. There was no significant difference between earth science content, efficacy or expected teaching outcome in life or earth science. Correlation results show a significant relationship between prior courses and life science content, and between the Post Life Content and Post Earth Content scores. The Post Life Efficacy subscale was also statistically related to the Life Outcome subscale and the Earth Efficacy subscale.

Author: Deborah L. Hanson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780542936784
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 494

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Book Description
Science is a subject that many elementary teachers struggle to teach. One of the reasons documented in the literature is the low science teaching self-efficacy of many elementary teachers. This study investigated possible connections between how a teacher defines science (her personal definition of science) and her science teaching self-efficacy. Thirteen teachers participating in Science EDUCATES, a professional development program that emphasized NOS, scientific inquiry and physical science content knowledge, were investigated to see how their science teaching self-efficacy was impacted as changes to their personal definition of science occurred. Two of these teachers were selected for further study; in addition, two teachers, outside the professional development, were also studied. Personal definitions of science were gathered using the VNOS-D2 and VOSI-E survey instruments while science teaching self-efficacy was measured by the STEBI survey. Interviews and classroom observations were conducted to see the patterns that emerged between the teachers' personal definition of science, their science self-efficacy and their classroom practices. The teachers in the professional development did increase their science teaching self-efficacy and contributed this increase to their enhanced knowledge about NOS and how scientific knowledge is generated. This increased science content knowledge led to a statistically significant difference in the PSTE scores of the teachers. Teachers with low to mid science teaching self-efficacy levels seem to have various elements embedded within their personal definition of science that prevents them from engaging fully in science. Their science practices seem to pattern those subjects, like social studies or language arts, they are more comfortable teaching. Understanding NOS helped the teachers to change their personal definitions of science and place their classroom practices more in line with the recommendations in the national reform documents. Teachers were able to incorporate NOS into their classroom practices by making multi-disciplinary connections between NOS and other subject areas. It does appear, however, that no direct relationship exists between one's personal definition of science and science teaching self-efficacy. One cannot predict a teacher's science teaching self-efficacy based solely on their definitions of science; however, low science self-efficacy teachers can benefit from studying NOS.

Author: Robert Evans
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9462095574
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
This book provides science teacher educators and science educational researchers with a current overview on the roles of beliefs in science education settings. There are four focal areas in the book: an overview of this field of research, lines of research, implications for policy, and implications for educators. Within each of these areas there are specific explorations that examine important areas such as, the roles of beliefs in teaching and learning, the impact of beliefs on student achievement, and ways in which beliefs are connected to teacher actions in the classroom. Throughout all of these discussions, there is a focus on international perspectives. Those reading this book can use the research presented to consider how to confront, challenge, and cultivate beliefs during the teacher professional development process.

Author: Graquetta Banks Harris
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Elementary school teachers
Languages : en
Pages : 149

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Book Description
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand perceptions of self-efficacy in science pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for novice elementary school teachers at various elementary schools in central Georgia. Novice elementary school teachers were those traditionally prepared, and self-efficacy was the confidence in science PCK for elementary school teachers. The two theories guiding this study included Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Shulman’s theory of PCK, as they supported the process of self-efficacy and PCK of novice elementary school teachers. The participants included 15–20 elementary school teachers who completed a traditional teacher preparation program and had fewer than 5 years of teaching experience. The setting was various elementary schools in central Georgia. Data collection followed qualitative procedures and included individual interviews, surveys utilizing the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument, and a focus group interview. Data analysis included interview transcription, data coding, horizonalization, reduction and elimination, clustering and thematizing, and construction of textural descriptions to give an overview of the teachers’ perceptions. The research resulted in an understanding of the experiences of novice elementary teachers while teaching science content. The findings of this research revealed varied experiences of novice elementary teachers and self-efficacy related to science PCK. Although participants in this study expressed their love of the teaching profession, most of them expressed negative emotions when confronted with teaching science at the elementary level. This negatively impacted their self-efficacy. Further research should focus on a different demographics (gender, race, age) and veteran educators who still may struggle with self-efficacy.

Author: Tiffany Baskerville
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Elementary school teachers
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This predictive, correlational study examines the relationship between undergraduate degree type, methods courses taken in undergraduate school, and the number of years teaching the same grade level and elementary science teachers’ perceived self-efficacy. In this non-experimental study, participants submitted their online responses to the 25-item survey, Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-A), and their demographic information via Google Forms. The researcher used multiple regression to analyze participants’ anonymous responses. In using a multiple linear regression analysis, the researcher examined the results of the STEBI-A to determine how accurately an elementary science teachers’ perceived self-efficacy is predicted by the predictor variable of type of undergraduate degree earned, years of teaching the same grade for elementary science teachers. The type of degree and science method courses variables did not display an ability to predict elementary science teacher self-efficacy. The participants for the study came from a snowball sample of elementary school teachers located in New Jersey during the summer semester of the 2022-2023 school year with N = 138 with a minimum of N = 71. The study revealed a statistically significant relationship between self-efficacy and the number of years of teaching the same grade level; however, undergraduate degree earned, and science methods courses did not show a statistically significant contribution to the overall model. Based on the results of this study a multiple regression study with degree type and subject matter professional development exposure as predictive variables is recommended.

Author: Meagan McKinney
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Elementary school teachers
Languages : en
Pages : 46

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Book Description
"This study examined the relationship between elementary teachers' mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT) and their self-efficacy for teaching mathematics. Self-efficacy and MKT are of high importance with implications in regards to quality of instruction and the Common Core State Standards for mathematics. Using the Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics (CKT-M) instrument, data for this study were collected from thirty-five elementary school teachers participating in the Improving Teachers' Monitoring of Learning Grant at the time. The data were concerned with these teachers' self-efficacy with the pedagogy and content of mathematics using the Self-Efficacy for Teaching Mathematics Instrument (SETMI). Qualitative data were collected pertaining to teachers' perceptions of the positive influences and challenges of implementing the Common Core State Standards into their classroom. A correlational analysis was run with the data collected from the survey to test for a relationship between the two self-efficacy constructs and the MKT. The results indicated no statistically significant relationship between either of the two self-efficacy constructs and participants' MKT. The qualitative data responses revealed the themes of training and support as positive influences, while curriculum and time demands were seen as the major challenges. Further research should be conducted to continue examining the relationship between self-efficacy and MKT using a larger, random sample to help gain a more true representation of the larger population."--Boise State University ScholarWorks.

Author: Gloria Kreischer-Gajewicz
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 155

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Book Description
Highly effective teachers have a positive impact on their students and their performance. Therefore, in-service teachers must continue to grow and develop their craft (Marzano, 2003). Research has shown factors influencing teacher effectiveness include their content knowledge, their self-efficacy, and their outcome expectancy (Bandura, 1977; Ohle, Boone, & Fischer, 2014; Sargent, Ferrell, Smith, & Scroggins, 2018; Tschannen-Moran & Hoy, 2001). Teachers who spend almost all of their class time teaching content and not working on improving student understanding have lower self-efficacy and outcome expectancy and struggle to improve their student's academic success (Petty, 2009). According to research, professional development should focus on pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) to have a more significant impact on student achievement (Kleickmann, Richter, Kunter, Elsner, Besser, Krauss, & Baumert, 2013; Shulman, 1986). Modeling Instruction is a type of professional development focused on the improvement of science teaching pedagogy. There is significant research on the impact of Modeling Instruction (MI) on students. However, little research on the effects of MI on teachers exists (Brewe, 2008). The purpose of this research was to examine how Modeling Instruction professional development impacts teachers. Examining a t-test of dependent samples using a pretest-posttest design will help to determine if MI professional development for in-service science teachers in an appropriate means for improving teacher content knowledge, self-efficacy, and outcome expectancy. The sample for this study included 567 participants in physical science Modeling Instruction professional development workshops from 21 different states in the United States. The researcher utilized a quasi-experimental research design utilizing surveys disseminated through voluntary participation in the Modeling Instruction professional development from 2016 to 2018 to ascertain the level of content knowledge (CK), personal science teaching efficacy (PSTE), and science teaching outcome expectancy (STOE) for each of the teachers both pre and post participation. Paired t-tests revealed that Modeling Instruction professional development has a positive impact on content knowledge, self-efficacy, and outcome expectancy. Multiple regression analysis revealed several predictors for the dependent variables, with gender as a common thread throughout. This research also provides implications for leadership and teaching.

Author: Lindsay Karin Lightner
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Paraprofessionals (paraeducators, instructional aides, or teaching assistants) have the potential to become teachers who have significant existing knowledge about schools and students. To reach this potential, a deeper understanding of their particular assets and needs in becoming teachers is needed. This dissertation comprises two studies investigating these preservice teachers' backgrounds, self-efficacy for teaching generally and for teaching science, and implications for the science preparation of preservice elementary teachers. In the first study, to learn whether and how paraprofessionals' school-based work experiences impacted their development as future elementary science teachers, 20 participants completed surveys regarding their general teaching self-efficacy and self-efficacy for teaching science. Quantitative analyses indicated that their years of paraprofessional work experience did not predict their self-efficacy. To better understand their work experiences and self-efficacy, a range sample of eight participants was selected and studied qualitatively using a multiple case study design incorporating participant interviews, classroom observations, and artifacts from schools and university coursework. Themes regarding these paraprofessionals' science teaching self-efficacy included balancing mastery and vicarious experiences of teaching, accessing knowledges including content knowledge and their sociocultural funds of knowledge, and accessing social power and supports during their transition from paraprofessional to teacher. In the second study, participants from three subsequent cohorts of paraprofessionals completed the same surveys used in the first study. The 43 participants' self-efficacy scores for using instructional strategies were lower than those for classroom management or student engagement. Multiple regression analyses indicated that participants' years of school-based work experience were not correlated with their general teaching self-efficacy. Regression analyses also indicated that a significant proportion of their science teaching self-efficacy was predicted negatively by their years of work experience and predicted positively by their number of college science courses. Further, the participants' science teaching self-efficacy was predicted by their self-efficacy for student engagement. The factors that paraprofessionals identify as affecting their science teaching self-efficacy can inform the efforts of teacher educators, school administrators, and policymakers to create recruitment and retention efforts that address paraprofessionals' particular needs and potentials, and contribute to our knowledge base regarding the science teaching preparation of preservice teachers overall.