THE CONVERGENCE OF PERCEIVED EFFICACY BELIEFS AND SCIENCING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOMS

Öz

Like many other countries, Turkey is also suffering from the lack of science in early years. Considering the literature and previous experiences in Turkey’s early childhood centers, it is obvious that science is the most neglected subject area in the curriculum. Furthermore, lack of science centers and materials in Turkey is also recognized by few available studies. This study employed survey research design with a sample of 242 in-service teachers from every region of Turkey. Results of the analyses support the reliability and construct validity of measuring science teaching efficacy with the SETAKIST instrument among early childhood teachers. Result of the correspondence analysis revealed that the higher levels of both teaching efficacy and knowledge efficacy are associated with more frequent science activities in classrooms. Another variable that was associated with more frequent science teaching was the year of teaching experience. Because the number of teachers who utilize science activities every day is relatively small, it is positioned apart from other components.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Early childhood
• science education
• teacher self-efficacy
• multiple correspondence analyses.

OKULÖNCESİ EĞİTİMDE ÖZYETERLİK ALGISI VE FEN UYGULAMALARI İLİŞKİSİNİN İNCELENMESİ

Öz

Pek çok ülkede olduğu gibi, Türkiye’de de erken çocukluk eğitiminde fen alanına yeterince yer verilmemektedir. Alanyazın ve Türkiye’deki erken çocukluk eğitimi kurumlarındaki deneyimlerincelendiğinde öğretim programında en az çok göz ardı edilen alanın fen olduğu görülmektedir. Fen köşelerinin ve fen malzemelerinin eksikliği de var olan az sayıdaki araştırmada ortaya konulmuştur. Bu çalışmada anket araştırma yöntemiyle Türkiye’nin farklı bölgelerinden 242 okulöncesi eğitim öğretmeninden veri toplanmıştır. Sonuçlar SETAKIST ölçeğinin okulöncesi eğitim öğretmenlerinin özyeterliklerini ölçmede geçerli ve güvenilir bir seçenek olabileceği görüşünü desteklemektedir. Çoklu uyum analizi sonuçları hem öğretme özyeterliğininhem de bilgi özyeterliğinin sınıfta gerçekleştirilen fen etkinliklerinin sıklığıyla ilişkili olduğunu göstermiştir. Fen etkinlikleri ile ilişkili bulunan bir diğer değişken de öğretmenlerin deneyim yılıdır. Fen etkinliklerini her gün kullanan öğretmenlerin diğer katılımcılardan ayrıştıkları gözlenmiştir. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Okulöncesi eğitim
• fen eğitimi
• öğretmen özyeterliği
• çoklu uyum analizi

Kaynakça

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