Preschool teachers' attitudes toward science and science teaching

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Temel Eğitim Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2007

Öğrenci: SEMA SÖNMEZ

Danışman: FEYZA ERDEN

Özet:

This study aims to explore preschool teachers' attitudes toward science teaching and its impact on classroom practices through the frequency of science activities provided in the classroom. In addition, attitudes of preschool teachers' toward science were investigated in terms of affecting factors such as age, educational level, years of teaching experience, undergraduate course work on science, number of children in classroom, and the age group they work with. The present research was conducted with 292 preschool teachers who work in public and private schools in different districts of Ankara during the second semester of 2006-2007 academic years. The data were collected by administering Early Childhood Teachers' Attitudes toward Science Teaching Scale (ECTASTS). Analysis of the data indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between preschool teachers' attitudes toward science and the frequency of science activities that they provide in the classroom. Also, all factors were found highly related with the teachers' attitudes toward science teaching and the frequency of science activities except for age and in-service training.