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Abstract More research related to effective ways to support and retain teachers in the teaching profession is necessary as the need for science and mathematics teachers continues to grow. Understanding how teachers perceive challenges and experience support early in their career can contribute to building environments which foster teacher retention. This mixed‐method study explored the influences on the self‐efficacy and career satisfaction of a group of 21 early‐career (2–6 years of classroom experience) secondary science and mathematics teachers who participated in a traditional university preparation program and scholarship program to prepare them for teaching in high‐need school districts. Using data from an efficacy survey and semistructured interviews, this study measured changes in teacher efficacy and described teacher leadership experiences, perceived teaching challenges, and valued supports. Results found no change in teachers' self‐efficacy scores although mean outcome expectancy scores decreased. Teachers' identification as a teacher leader was correlated with science or mathematics teaching self‐efficacy. Qualitative coding of the interviews revealed ways in which assessments, workload, school structures and polices, administration, students, and teacher community either contributed to teachers reported difficulties or supported them as early‐career teachers. The discussion offers suggestions for ways to increase secondary science and mathematics teachers' job satisfaction.
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A Study of Common Concerns Inhibiting Teacher Enactment of Computational Thinking into Project-based Mathematics and Career Technical Education.
Recent studies have shown that US high school students are not as prolific as other countries in terms of their performance in mathematics. One of the most effective solutions can be a change in the way mathematics subjects is taught in high school. The NSF-funded “Understanding How Integrated Computational Thinking, Engineering Design, and Mathematics Can Help Students Solve Scientific and Technical Problems in Career Technical Education (INITIATE) project is a collaboration of The University of Toledo and high schools in Toledo that aims to improve mathematics teaching. Project-based learning (PBL) and integrating math with career technology education (CTE) have been established as efficient ways to improve high school students’ understanding of mathematics. Nevertheless, implementation of new ways of teaching is not always easy for the teachers, and many factors may inhibit the teachers from implementing PBL methods. This research analyzes common concerns teachers experienced regarding enacting new teaching methodologies in their classroom. The Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ) was used to measure the teachers’ perceptions of and comfort with implementing computational thinking (CT) concepts PBL lessons. Possible relationships between teachers’ SoCQ CBAM score and other variables such as their understanding of PBL and CTE are examined and discussed.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1741784
- PAR ID:
- 10288334
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- CSEDU
- ISSN:
- 2184-5026
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Conference Paper:
- https://doi.org/10.5220/0009337403410349
