Teachers' perceptions related to characteristics of a professional environment for teaching


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ŞAHİN M., White A. L.

Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, cilt.11, sa.3, ss.559-575, 2015 (SSCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 11 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2015
  • Doi Numarası: 10.12973/eurasia.2015.1348a
  • Dergi Adı: Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.559-575
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Professional development, Professional teaching environment, Science teacher perceptions
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The purpose of this study was to determine pre-service and in-service science and mathematics teachers' perceptions of the characteristics of a professional teaching environment. The study further investigated the relationships of field placement contexts and grade levels on pre-service teachers' perceptions of importance and availability of certain aspects of a professional teaching environment. The teacher perceptions were assessed using the Professional Environment for Teaching Survey (PETS). The responses reflecting the teacher perceptions of importance were subjected to a principal component analysis and two components were identified. These were Resources for Teaching and Recognition of Teacher Contributions. Data obtained from pre-service teachers who (were) enrolled in a graduate teacher education licensure program at a large Midwestern university and from in-service teachers who were mentors for the pre-service teachers. Correlation and forward stepwise multiple regression analyses of the data suggested that the perceptions of importance and/or availability of those pre-service or in-service teachers with more experience were related to the academic degree they held and the content that they were teaching or expecting to teach. Results for the in-service and pre-service teachers' perceptions were discussed in terms of characteristics of a professional teaching environment.