The context and nature of teacher efficacy beliefs provide a method upon which to explore science teachers' perceptions of their teaching effectiveness and student achievement as a function of ethnicity. Promotion of a more in-depth knowledge of science teaching efficacy requires cross-sectional and longitudinal investigations. In this study, a…

Science teaching in elementary schools, or the lack thereof, continues to be an area of concern and criticism. Preservice elementary teachers' lack of confidence in teaching science is a major part of this problem. In this mixed-methods study, we report the impacts of an inquiry-based science course on preservice elementary teachers' self-efficacy…

Guided and open inquiry strategies are found to improve students' attitudes toward science. Yet, confirmation and structured inquiry are more often enacted by teachers. The effectiveness of these approaches involving high teacher guidance remains unexplored. Students in six classes (N = 119, M[subscript age] = 11.25 years) were assigned to control…

Presents a study to develop and partially validate an instrument to measure the self-efficacy beliefs of teachers related to utilizing microcomputers in science instruction. The resulting instrument contained two subscales: the Outcome Expectancy and Personal Self Efficacy Scales. Appendices include the instrument and scoring instructions. (17…

Preservice teachers (PSTs) participated in Family Science Learning Events (FSLEs) at a university designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution. PSTs were required by the instructor to conceive and design culturally relevant science activities as well as implement these activities with K-8 students and their families during three separate FSLEs…

This article is about an investigation of six middle school science teachers' beliefs and instructional practice about the coherence of the science they teach as articulated by National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996). Many well intentioned reform efforts focus on improving content knowledge of teachers, but many classroom teachers…

Described is a measure of the self-efficacy of preservice elementary science teachers. Field experiences, peer teaching, and the self-evaluation of microteaching are introduced as ways to enhance science teaching self-efficacy. Validity and reliability data are presented. (KR)

Describes the Outreach Program that has attempted to provide teachers with sustained support through training and direct classroom assistance in an effort to develop a sense of self-efficacy with regard to desired teacher and student behaviors that are part of a standards-based learning experience. Contains 21 references. (Author/ASK)

Describes the strategy used in a study designed to evaluate the impact and efficacy of the National Science Foundation Comprehensive Program for Teacher Education. The data from this study had not yet been analyzed, and results are therefore not included in the paper. (JR)

Examines the beliefs of preservice elementary teachers toward science and science teaching. Analysis of the interview responses yielded both interesting and, at times, predictable patterns. Descriptors used by study participants were overwhelmingly negative, suggesting that negative feelings overshadow achievement in science as an influence on…

The aim of this research is to describe the development of the Science Teachers' Pedagogical Discontentment Scale, an instrument that measures the discontentment that arises in teachers as they recognize a mismatch between their own pedagogical beliefs and goals and their actual classroom practices. From a conceptual change perspective, we explore…

Documents and evaluates effects of inservice teacher education on rural-school teachers' behaviors and beliefs about microcomputers in science teaching. Describes the ENLIST Micros training program and the beliefs, behavior, and evaluation instruments utilized. Results indicated significant changes in teachers' beliefs toward and use of…