Teacher STEM Perception and Preparation: Inquiry-Based STEM Professional Development for Elementary Teachers

ABSTRACT Student foundational knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is formed in their elementary education. Paradoxically, many elementary teachers have constrained background knowledge, confidence, and efficacy for teaching STEM that may hamper student STEM learning. The association between teacher preparation to teach STEM and student achievement in STEM motivated the authors' professional development program. The authors created and implemented a professional development program to address K–5 teacher confidence for, attitudes toward, knowledge of, and efficacy for teaching inquiry-based STEM. Using data from 2 independent cohorts the authors found significant and consistent increases in pre- to postinstitute assessments of teacher confidence, efficacy, and perceptions of STEM. Further, they found increased participant attention toward linking STEM curriculum and instruction to learning standards. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

[1]  J. Shea.  National Science Education Standards , 1995 .

[2]  L. Enochs,et al.  Toward the development of an elementary teacher's science teaching efficacy belief instrument , 1990 .

[3]  Ian S. Ginns,et al.  An analysis of scientific understandings of preservice elementary teacher education students , 1995 .

[4]  G. Hatano,et al.  Young children's naive theory of biology , 1994, Cognition.

[5]  William J. Boone,et al.  Self‐efficacy and alternative conceptions of science of preservice elementary teachers , 1998 .

[6]  渋江 靖弘,et al.  Science for All Americans , 1990 .

[7]  K. Levitt,et al.  An Analysis of Elementary Teachers' Beliefs Regarding the Teaching and Learning of Science. , 2002 .

[8]  Ken Springer,et al.  Young Children's Understanding of a Biological Basis for Parent‐Offspring Relations , 1996 .

[9]  Ronald W. Marx,et al.  No Child Left Behind and Science Education: Opportunities, Challenges, and Risks , 2006, The Elementary School Journal.

[10]  G. Solomon.  Birth, kind and naïve biology , 2002 .

[11]  Ken Appleton,et al.  How Do Beginning Primary School Teachers Cope with Science? Toward an Understanding of Science Teaching Practice , 2003 .

[12]  H. Schweingruber,et al.  TAKING SCIENCE TO SCHOOL: LEARNING AND TEACHING SCIENCE IN GRADES K-8 , 2007 .

[13]  Jesse L. M. Wilkins,et al.  Using Self-Efficacy as a Construct for Evaluating Science and Mathematics Methods Courses , 2007 .

[14]  John W. Creswell,et al.  Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research , 2006 .

[15]  R. Hackett.  Young People's Images of Science , 1996 .

[16]  Helen R. Quinn,et al.  A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas , 2013 .

[17]  Megan Tschannen-Moran,et al.  Teacher Efficacy: Its Meaning and Measure , 1998 .

[18]  Craig K. Enders,et al.  Professional Development in Inquiry-Based Science for Elementary Teachers of Diverse Student Groups. , 2004 .

[19]  A Graduate Level In-Service Teacher Education Curriculum Integrating Engineering into Science and Mathematics Contents , 2010, The Mathematics Enthusiast.

[20]  How Can True Inquiry Happen in K-16 Science Education? , 2009 .

[21]  John A. Ross,et al.  Professional Development Effects on Teacher Efficacy: Results of Randomized Field Trial , 2007 .

[22]  Giyoo Hatano,et al.  Young Children's Conception of the Biological World , 2006 .

[23]  Araceli Espinoza,et al.  Examining the Academic Success of Latino Students in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Majors , 2008 .

[24]  W. McComas.  Benchmarks for Science Literacy , 2014 .

[25]  David A. Gillam,et al.  A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas , 2012 .

[26]  Carolyn W. Keys,et al.  Co-Constructing Inquiry-based Science with Teachers: Essential Research for Lasting Reform. , 2001 .

[27]  J. Lederman.  Developing and Assessing Elementary Teachers ’ and Students ’ Understandings of Nature of Science and Scientific Inquiry , 2005 .

[28]  Cheryl Schrader,et al.  A SySTEMic Solution: Elementary Teacher Preparation in STEM Expertise and Engineering Awareness , 2009 .

[29]  Chin-Chung Tsai,et al.  Reinterpreting and reconstructing science: Teachers’ view changes toward the nature of science by courses of science education , 2006 .

[30]  John Settlage,et al.  Constructing a doubt‐free teaching self: Self‐efficacy, teacher identity, and science instruction within diverse settings , 2009 .

[31]  J. Lagowski.  National Science Education Standards , 1995 .

[32]  R. Jesky-Smith.  Me, Teach Science?. , 2002 .

[33]  K. Krainer,et al.  Mathematics (Student) Teachers and Teacher Educators as Learners , 2006 .

[34]  Louis S. Nadelson,et al.  Connecting Science with Engineering: Using Inquiry and Design in a Teacher Professional Development Course , 2011 .

[35]  Cynthia J. Atman,et al.  Engineering Student Attitudes Assessment , 1998 .

[36]  Adam V. Maltese,et al.  Eyeballs in the Fridge: Sources of early interest in science , 2010 .

[37]  Student teachers' conceptions about effective primary science teaching: a longitudinal study , 2001 .

[38]  Frank Pajares,et al.  A comparative study of the self‐efficacy beliefs of successful men and women in mathematics, science, and technology careers , 2008 .

[39]  Wynne Harlen,et al.  Primary teachers’ understanding of concepts of science: impact on confidence and teaching , 1997 .

[40]  L. Nadelson,et al.  K-8 Educators Perceptions and Preparedness for Teaching Evolution Topics , 2010 .

[41]  Judith A. Morrison,et al.  Factors Influencing Elementary and Secondary Teachers' Views on the Nature of Science. , 2008 .

[42]  Lee A. Plourde.  Elementary Science Education: The Influence of Student Teaching-Where It All Begins , 2002 .

[43]  Kathleen S. Davis.  "Change is hard": What science teachers are telling us about reform and teacher learning of innovative practices , 2003 .

[44]  M. Chandler,et al.  Where have all the skeptics gone?: Patterns of new age beliefs and anti-scientific attitudes in preservice primary teachers , 2000 .

[45]  M. Rose.  Perceptions of Technological Literacy among Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Leaders , 2007 .

[46]  John Settlage,et al.  Demythologizing Science Teacher Education: Conquering the False Ideal of Open Inquiry , 2007 .

[47]  Anita Woolfolk Hoy,et al.  Changes in teacher efficacy during the early years of teaching: A comparison of four measures , 2005 .

[48]  Bernardo A. León de la Barra,et al.  Attracting girls to science, engineering and technology: an Australian perspective , 2009 .

[49]  Jenefer Husman,et al.  Steps toward a sound measure of engineering student attitudes: Pittsburgh Engineering Attitudes Scale - Revised , 2009, 2009 39th IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference.

[50]  Ozgul Yilmaz-Tuzun,et al.  Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Beliefs About Science Teaching , 2008 .

[51]  Sandra A. Deemer,et al.  Classroom goal orientation in high school classrooms: revealing links between teacher beliefs and classroom environments , 2004 .

[52]  K. Skamp,et al.  Student teachers' conceptions about effective primary science teaching: a longitudinal study , 2001 .

[53]  S. Loucks-Horsley.  Designing Professional Development for Teachers of Science and Mathematics , 1997 .

[54]  Olga S. Jarrett.  Science interest and confidence among preservice elementary teachers , 1999 .

[55]  Miriam Munck.  Science pedagogy, teacher attitudes, and student success , 2007 .

[56]  Instructional Time in Elementary Schools: A Closer Look at Changes for Specific Subjects , 2008 .

[57]  Robert E. Bleicher,et al.  Nurturing Confidence in Preservice Elementary Science Teachers , 2006 .

[58]  M. Alexander,et al.  Professional development. , 1999, Journal of intravenous nursing : the official publication of the Intravenous Nurses Society.

[59]  Science/Technology/Society: A New Effort for Providing Appropriate Science for All , 1990 .

[60]  N. Augustine.  Rising Above The Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future , 2006 .