ERIC Number: EJ1021852
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 37
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-0693
EISSN: N/A
The Impact of High School Science Teachers' Beliefs, Curricular Enactments and Experience on Student Learning during an Inquiry-Based Urban Ecology Curriculum
McNeill, Katherine L.; Pimentel, Diane Silva; Strauss, Eric G.
International Journal of Science Education, v35 n15 p2608-2644 2013
Inquiry-based curricula are an essential tool for reforming science education yet the role of the teacher is often overlooked in terms of the impact of the curriculum on student achievement. Our research focuses on 22 teachers' use of a year-long high school urban ecology curriculum and how teachers' self-efficacy, instructional practices, curricular enactments and previous experience impacted student learning. Data sources included teacher belief surveys, teacher enactment surveys, a student multiple-choice assessment focused on defining and identifying science concepts and a student open-ended assessment focused on scientific inquiry. Results from the two hierarchical linear models indicate that there was significant variation between teachers in terms of student achievement. For the multiple-choice assessment, teachers who spent a larger percentage of time on group work and a smaller percentage of time lecturing had greater student learning. For the open-ended assessment, teachers who reported a higher frequency of students engaging in argument and sharing ideas had greater student learning while teachers who adapted the curriculum more had lower student learning. These results suggest the importance of supporting the active role of students in instruction, emphasising argumentation, and considering the types of adaptations teachers make to curriculum.
Descriptors: Teacher Influence, Science Teachers, Secondary School Teachers, Beliefs, Secondary School Science, Self Efficacy, Teaching Methods, Teaching Experience, Inquiry, Active Learning, Urban Environment, Ecology, High School Students, Science Achievement, Teacher Surveys, Multiple Choice Tests, Science Tests, Pretests Posttests, Hierarchical Linear Modeling, Factor Analysis, Teacher Background
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Publication Type: Reports - Research; Journal Articles; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A