Elementary Teachers’ Views of
their Science Professional
Development Attendance:
An Expectancy-Value Approach
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North Carolina State University, USA
Publication date: 2013-12-14
EURASIA J. Math., Sci Tech. Ed 2013;9(1):45-58
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
This study explored primarily the elementary teachers’ motivations and expectations for
engagement in a science professional development. Participants (N=20) were elementary
teachers in two public schools from the United States and were enrolled in a yearlong
science professional development; however, due to various factors teachers did not
complete the professional development program. We investigated various motivational
aspects related to teachers’ professional experiences as well as their views about the
program. Study results showed that teachers’’ motivations for this professional
development program were strongly influenced by their self-efficacy beliefs about science
teaching, their beliefs about what effective teaching means and the types of support
provided to teachers by their schools to engage in such program. Additional study results
showed that teachers from different grade levels perceived differently the effectiveness of
their professional development program involvement because of the relevance (or lack of
relevance) of the science content presented in the program relative to their grade level.
Implications for classroom practice and future research are discussed in this study along
with findings.