ERIC Number: EJ975211
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1941-5257
EISSN: N/A
Primary School Science Teachers' Perspectives regarding Their Professional Development: Implications for School Districts in South Africa
Bantwini, Bongani D.
Professional Development in Education, v38 n4 p517-532 2012
Perceptions play a significant role in an individual's decision-making. This paper reports on a study that investigated primary school science teachers' perceptions of their school district professional development and its basis and impact on the teacher development process in a large district in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. From the findings, teachers had negative perceptions that led to the belief that they were not receiving the support and tools they needed for professional development from their district. The impact of their perceptions was evident in the slow or non-implementation of the district's newly launched curriculum reforms. Thus, the significance of identifying and addressing teachers' perceptions is argued, for they play a critical role in how they learn and in how their perceptions inform the changes they make in their teaching practice. Failure to address teachers' perceptions is likely to result in teachers not benefiting from their professional development programs. (Contains 1 note.)
Descriptors: Educational Change, Foreign Countries, Science Teachers, Professional Development, Teaching Methods, School Districts, Elementary School Science, Elementary School Teachers, Beliefs, Program Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, Educational Needs, Supervisor Supervisee Relationship, Teaching Experience, Change Strategies, Program Effectiveness, Teacher Education Programs
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A