Visual arts pedagogy in early childhood contexts: The baggage of self-efficacy beliefs, pedagogical knowledge and limited pre-service training

2020 ◽  
pp. 183693912097906
Author(s):  
Gai Lindsay
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Visual Arts ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Efficacy Beliefs ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Arts Pedagogy ◽  
Arts Curriculum ◽  
Pedagogical Choices ◽  
Service Training

Visual arts provisions are central to children’s holistic, play-based learning, yet the visual arts self-efficacy beliefs and subject content knowledge of early childhood educators influence pedagogical choices. When early childhood educators lack the visual arts confidence, skills, and knowledge required to effectively support children’s visual arts learning and engagement, children’s learning in the visual arts domain may be restricted; resulting in a negative cycle of influence whereby the next generation are denied their right to access visual languages. Qualitative case study research explored the visual arts beliefs and pedagogy of 12 degree qualified and vocationally trained early childhood educators. The conceptual framework, designed to to interpret and analyse the research data, aligns Dewey’s philosophies of democracy, education and art with the philosophy and visual arts praxis of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. The research findings suggest educator’s low visual arts self-efficacy beliefs develop during childhood and are not improved by pre-service training, resulting in limited visual arts skills and knowledge. The research participants’ visual arts pedagogy appeared to be strongly influenced by the experiential ‘baggage’ they carried into their pre-service training and practice contexts, by the participants’ theoretical beliefs about children’s development and by a range of divergent beliefs about the purposes of visual art in the early childhood context. Although training has the potential to broadly inform knowledge and practice, this study suggests that unless limiting visual arts self-efficacy beliefs are disrupted by constructivist theoretical knowledge and combined with practical skills and knowledge, the visual arts curriculum offered to children may be significantly compromised.

scholarly journals Training may enhance early childhood educators’ self-efficacy to lead physical activity in childcare

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianne A. Bruijns ◽  
Andrew M. Johnson ◽  
Jennifer D. Irwin ◽  
Shauna M. Burke ◽  
Molly Driediger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intervention Component ◽  
Space Extension ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Early childhood educators (ECEs) play a critical role in promoting physical activity (PA) among preschoolers in childcare; thus, PA-related training for ECEs is essential. The Supporting PA in the Childcare Environment (SPACE) intervention incorporated: 1. shorter, more frequent outdoor play sessions; 2. provision of portable play equipment; and, PA training for ECEs. An extension of the SPACE intervention (the SPACE-Extension) incorporated only the shorter, more frequent outdoor play periods component of the original SPACE intervention. The purpose of this study was to explore the individual impact of these interventions on ECEs’ PA-related self-efficacy and knowledge. Methods ECEs from the SPACE (n = 83) and SPACE-Extension (n = 31) were administered surveys at all intervention time-points to assess: self-efficacy to engage preschoolers in PA (n = 6 items; scale 0 to 100); self-efficacy to implement the intervention (n = 6 items); and, knowledge of preschooler-specific PA and screen-viewing guidelines (n = 2 items). A linear mixed effects model was used to analyze the impact of each intervention on ECEs’ self-efficacy and knowledge and controlled for multiple comparison bias. Results The SPACE intervention significantly impacted ECEs’ self-efficacy to engage preschoolers in PA for 180 min/day (main effect), and when outdoor playtime was not an option (interaction effect). Further, the interaction model for ECEs’ knowledge of the total PA guideline for preschoolers approached significance when compared to the main effects model. Participants within the SPACE-Extension did not demonstrate any significant changes in self-efficacy or knowledge variables. Conclusions Findings from this study highlight the benefit of ECE training in PA with regard to fostering their PA-related self-efficacy and knowledge. Future research should explore the impact of PA training for ECEs uniquely in order to determine if this intervention component, alone, can produce meaningful changes in children’s PA behaviours at childcare.

scholarly journals Chilean Teachers’ Attitudes towards Inclusive Education, Intention, and Self-Efficacy to Implement Inclusive Practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2300
Author(s):  
Constanza San Martin ◽  
Chenda Ramirez ◽  
Rubén Calvo ◽  
Yolanda Muñoz-Martínez ◽  
Umesh Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Efficacy Beliefs ◽  
Inclusive Classrooms ◽  
Inclusive Practices ◽  
Teacher Qualification ◽  
Service Training ◽  
Teachers Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes Towards Inclusion

Teachers play an important role in the success of inclusive practices for diverse learners in regular classrooms. It is, therefore, important to examine their beliefs and preparation to teach in inclusive classrooms. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the attitude of active Chilean teachers (n = 569) towards inclusion, their self-efficacy regarding inclusive practices, and their intention to teach in inclusive classrooms. Our secondary objectives were to explore the relationship between their attitudes and self-efficacy and to determine the influence of demographic and professional variables on these two constructs. A positive and significant relationship between teachers’ attitude and self-efficacy was found. Teacher qualification was not significantly related to attitudes towards inclusion but was negatively associated with their self-efficacy beliefs concerning inclusive practices. Secondary education teachers reported lower teaching efficacy beliefs for inclusion than pre-school, primary, and special education teachers. The type of school emerged as a significant predictor of teachers’ attitude and self-efficacy beliefs. The implications of this research and need for additional teacher and in-service training to improve educators’ attitudes and self-efficacy are discussed.

scholarly journals Investigation of Difficulties Faced by Special Education Teachers and Their Self-Efficacy Beliefs

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2019-V1-I1) ◽  
pp. 57-69
Author(s):  
Pelin Piştav-Akmeşe ◽  
Nilay Kayhan
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Efficacy Beliefs ◽  
The Self ◽  
Special Education Services ◽  
Education Services ◽  
Service Training ◽  
Undergraduate Programs ◽  
Future Practice

Abstract Quality special education services are closely related to the quality and the efficacy of the teachers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the difficulties faced by the special education teachers and their selfefficacy beliefs. The study included 84 special education teachers. Data for the study were collected using the Tool for Identifying Difficulties Faced by Special Education Teachers and Teacher Interpersonal SelfEfficacy Scale. Results showed that while the difficulties faced by the teachers did not differ based on gender, they differed significantly based on the undergraduate programs from which the teachers graduated, type of the school in which the teachers worked and the need for the in-service training. Another finding of the study was that the self-efficacy beliefs of the teachers do not differ based on their gender, undergraduate program from which they graduated and type of the school they worked in. However, self-efficacy beliefs of the teachers differed according to their need for in-service training. Recommendations for future practice is presented. Öz Özel eğitim hizmetleri öğretmenlerin niteliği ve etkililiği ile yakından ilişkilidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, özel eğitim öğretmenlerinin karşılaştıkları güçlükler ve öz-yeterlik inançlarını incelemektir. Çalışma 84 özel eğitim öğretmeni ile yürütülmüştür. Araştırmanın verileri Özel Eğitim Öğretmenlerinin Karşılaştığı Zorlukları Belirleme Aracı ve Kişilerarası Öz-Yeterlik Ölçeği ile toplanmıştır. Öğretmenlerin karşılaştıkları güçlüklerin cinsiyete göre farklılık göstermediği gözlenirken, mezun oldukları lisans programına, görev yaptıkları okul türüne ve hizmet içi eğitim gereksinimleri olup olmama durumuna göre gruplar arasında anlamlı farklılık görülmüştür. Araştırmanın diğer bir bulgusu ise, öğretmenlerin öz-yeterlik inançlarının cinsiyetlerine, mezun oldukları lisans programına ve çalıştıkları okul türüne göre farklılık göstermediği, ancak hizmet içi eğitim gereksinimleri olup olmama durumuna göre değiştiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışmanın sonunda uygulamaya yönelik öneriler sunulmuştur.

scholarly journals Field Experiences, Mentoring, and Preservice Early Childhood Teachers’ Science Teaching Self-Efficacy Beliefs

2021 ◽  
pp. 518-534
Author(s):  
Ahmet Simsar ◽  
Ithel Jones
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Science Teaching ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
Early Childhood Teachers ◽  
Efficacy Beliefs ◽  
Mentor Teachers

In this study relationships between preservice early childhood teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs and their mentor teachers’ mentoring were examined. Quantitative research method was used in the study by the using multivariate data collections. The Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI) was administered to 96 pre-service teachers and mentor teachers. Time spent teaching and observing science was recorded also recorded by participants by the using time trackers. The Mentoring for Effective Science Teaching (MEST) instrument measured perceptions of the teachers’ mentoring activities, including modeling and feedback. Correlational analyses estimated the relationship between the preservice and mentor teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs, beliefs and time spent teaching, and beliefs and modeling and feedback. The findings suggest that mentor teachers play an important role in the preparation of preservice teachers, and that this role is particularly true for those mentors with higher science teaching self-efficacy beliefs. It also showed that how teaching practices have significant roles while preparing future teachers. For teacher education program could be pay attention to teaching practices while giving a decision for choosing mentor teachers. For future researchers may also look at the different sections of mentoring practices and their impacts on preservice teacher’s teaching skills.

Are early childhood educators in Southern Ontario being sufficiently prepared for teaching Indigenous students?

2020 ◽  
pp. 1476718X2094294
Author(s):  
Iris Lamb
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Indigenous Studies ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Indigenous Students ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Service Training

Research highlights the importance of inclusive and culturally responsive teaching. This study sought to understand to what extent Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) in Southern Ontario, upon graduation from their pre-service programmes, feel they are prepared for teaching Indigenous students and supporting Indigenous families in an inclusive, culturally relevant environment. The study took a pragmatist, two-phase approach which consisted of a document review of Ontario Early Childhood Education college programmes, followed by an online survey in which recently graduated Early Childhood Educators were asked about their college experiences regarding education in Indigenous Studies. Of the 23 examined colleges, only 1, or 4.34 per cent, offered a mandatory course in Indigenous Studies, and of the 34 surveyed Early Childhood Educators, only 8.82 per cent indicated they felt that their pre-service training sufficiently prepared them for teaching Indigenous students. Consequently, there appears to be a gap in Early Childhood Education pre-service training regarding Indigenous awareness and education. This study recommends that more research be conducted in this specific area, as the sample size for both phases of this study was small, and the apparent correlation does not equal causation; nevertheless, the resulting data from this study are alarming and provide an impetus for further research.

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