Developing Preservice Teachers' Self-Efficacy through Field-Based Science Teaching Practice with Elementary Students

Thirty preservice teachers enrolled in a field-based science methods course were placed at a public elementary school for coursework and for teaching practice with elementary students. Candidates focused on building conceptual understanding of science content and pedagogical methods through innovative curriculum development and other course assignments during the first ten weeks. Teaching practice with fifth-grade students at the hosting elementary school occurred over a five-week period towards the end of the course. The researcher sought to determine if teacher candidates' confidence would rise in a teacher preparation environment that included exposure to authentic teaching practice. A pretest-posttest administration of the STEBIB determined that general efficacy and personal science teaching efficacy (PSTE) increased significantly as hypothesized. Science teaching outcome expectancy (STOE) increased, but to a lesser degree.