scholarly journals Why Become a Teacher? Exploring Motivations for Becoming Science and Mathematics Teachers in Australia Science and Mathematics Teachers in Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Chrystal Whiteford ◽  
◽  
Nick Kelly ◽  
Les Dawes ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Science Teachers ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Parental Occupation ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Science And Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Mathematics And Science Teachers ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Mathematics And Science

There is an identified shortage of mathematics and science teachers across Australia and many of these teachers leave the profession within 3 to 5 years of graduating. This paper provides important insights on what motivates people to become science and mathematics teachers in Australia. Data drawn from two surveys, one investigating why students might become a teacher and the other examining why teachers joined the profession, are explored to provide unique insight into an area of need. Using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rho, results suggest contribution to society and love of subject area to be among the top motivators for becoming a teacher. Financial reward and parental occupation were found to be less selected motivators. Although differences existed between the two cohorts suggesting motivations may change, similarities provide focus for future recruitment and retention of science and mathematics teachers for higher education institutions and education policy makers.

scholarly journals THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TEACHERS COLLABORATION

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-6
Author(s):  
Vincentas Lamanauskas
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Natural Science ◽  
Mathematics Teaching ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Natural Science Education ◽  
Science And Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Mathematics And Science

It is obvious, that collaboration plays an increasing role among science and mathematics teachers. It is quite useful if different ideas on science and mathematics teaching are shared among teachers. Teachers have better opportunities to experience collaboration. The collaborative process supports the transdisciplinarity of science and mathematics teaching. Teachers are able to develop an understanding of how mathematics and science concepts can be taught in creative, playful and effective way. The project MaT²SMc is implemented in the frame of EU Lifelong Learning Programme. The main idea of the project is to find a way to increase students' motivation to learn in the key subjects mathematics and science. From one side, mathematics teachers should understand that there is a meaningful and realistic context to use mathematics. From the other side, science teachers should understand that the mathematics competences required for more effective science teaching and learning. In such a context the collaboration of science and mathematics teachers is very relevant. Currently it is obvious that mathematics and natural science teachers‘ collaboration on integration purposes at school is limited by some factors. Collaboration of mathematics and natural science teachers should be expanded, for this purpose, it is necessary to create all necessary conditions and didactic providing (support). It is obvious, that collaboration of mathematics and science teachers is important for improvement of quality of natural science education. Key words: collaboration, quality of natural science education, science and mathematics teaching.

scholarly journals An Opinions of secondary school science and mathematics teachers on STEM education

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Bekir Yildirim ◽  
Cumhur Türk
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Stem Education ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
School Science ◽  
Middle School Science ◽  
Secondary School Science ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Science And Mathematics Teachers

In this study, the opinions of middle school science teachers and mathematics teachers towards STEM education were examined. The research was carried out for 30 hours with 28 middle school science and mathematics teachers who were working in Istanbul during the spring semester of 2016-2017 academic year. 75% of these teachers are female teachers and 25% are male teachers. The study was conducted by the case study method among qualitative research methods. For the determination of the opinions of the secondary school science and mathematics teachers by the researcher, "STEM Interview Form for Teachers" consisting of 8 questions was created. As a result of the analysis, the teachers emphasized that they did not feel sufficient about STEM education. In addition, teachers emphasized that a good STEM teacher should have STEM knowledge, pedagogy knowledge and 21st century skill knowledge. However, they emphasize that STEM education is a useful educational concept but that there may be problems that may be encountered during STEM education. Moreover, it was also found that after the STEM training, teachers had positive changes in their opinions towards Engineering and Technology. Suggestions have been made in the direction of these obtained results.

scholarly journals IDENTIFYING BARRIERS WHEN TEACHING SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS IN LOW ECONOMY REGIONS: SWANSEA AND HAKKARI AS CASE STUDIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 848-865
Author(s):  
Mukadder Baran
Keyword(s):  
Science Teachers ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Pedagogical Issues ◽  
Teaching Process ◽  
Case Research ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Science And Mathematics Teachers

The purpose of this research was to identify the barriers that upper-secondary school science and mathematics teachers face during the teaching process in economically disadvantaged regions (Hakkari, Turkey and Swansea, UK). The research design was comparative case research and pursues qualitative methodological approach in collecting and analyzing the data about the barriers that teachers are encountering during the teaching process. The research sample consisted of 24 science and mathematics teachers from different upper-secondary schools in Hakkari and Swansea. Semi-structured interview forms, were developed and employed to collect the data. The thematic analysis was used to analyze the obtained data. The results revealed different categories in understanding the situations that science and mathematics teachers confront in both cases; student-related issues, pedagogical issues, teachers’ lack of subject knowledge and socio-economic and cultural-based issues. As student-based barriers, lack of prior knowledge, students`attention span, and interest; and regarding teachers-based barriers, teachers` lack of class management and communication skills, and lack of student-centered methods found as similar barriers. Language and socio-economical problems were also shared barriers for both cities. In addition to those barriers, political and family-based issues which hindered educational attainment found as the main barriers by science and mathematics teachers in Hakkari. Keywords: comparative case research, mathematics teachers, science teachers, teaching barriers.

Book Review: An Ambitious Undertaking: Countering Mathematics and Science Teachers' Resistance to Teaching for Diversity: A Review of Preparing Mathematics and Science Teachers for Diverse Classrooms: Promising Strategies for Transformative Pedagogy

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-472
Author(s):  
Jo Clay Olson
Keyword(s):  
Science Teachers ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Culturally Relevant ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Diverse Classrooms ◽  
Lead Teachers ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Mathematics And Science Teachers ◽  
Mathematics And Science

Inspirational stories about teachers who are able to transform students' lives pepper the literature (e.g., Ladson-Billings, 1994). Ladson-Billings described characteristics of culturally relevant teaching and then explored the stories of three teachers who enacted a personal pedagogy that led to high achievement among African American students. Stories such as these provide insights and can lead teachers to change aspects of their teaching practice. At times, teachers may be transformed by these success stories and radically change their actions. However, when teachers enact a new practice without an ideological shift in beliefs, the change is often superficial and may not result in the desired vision (Ball, 1992; Cohen, 1990; Fennema & Nelson, 1997). The question arises, how can teacher educators and professional developers help both practicing and prospective science and mathematics teachers recognize the need for culturally relevant pedagogy when science and mathematics are often considered devoid of culture?

The Distribution of Mathematics and Science Teachers Across and Within Secondary Schools

1997 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Monk ◽  
Jennifer King Rice
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
School Level ◽  
Individual Student ◽  
School Work ◽  
Mathematics And Science Teachers ◽  
Mathematics And Science

Using data from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth, this study examines the allocation of mathematics and science teachers' subject area preparation levels across as well as within a national sample of American secondary schools. At the school level, the study assesses relationships between average teacher preparation levels and socioeconomic status of the clientele, size of the school, and measures of internal collegiality. The study also examines within-school allocations and estimates the degree to which individual student shares of teacher resources are related to pupil attributes, such as previous test scores, school work ethic, socioeconomic status, and level of previous course work in the subject area. Results suggest that teachers with differing levels of content preparation are systematically allocated across as well as within secondary schools, particularly in the mathematics area of the curriculum. Implications for policy are discussed.

Poles, Parking Lots, and Mount Piton: Classroom Activities that Combine Astronomy, History, and Mathematics

2006 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-99
Author(s):  
Seán P. Madden ◽  
Jocelyn M. Comstock ◽  
James P. Downing
Keyword(s):  
Science Teachers ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
The Moon ◽  
High School Curriculum ◽  
Classroom Activities ◽  
The Earth ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Mathematics And Science Teachers ◽  
Mathematics And Science

How big is the earth? How far away is the moon? How big is the moon? How tall are the mountains on the moon? These wonderfully naïve questions have been asked for centuries by children and astronomers alike. A great bonus for mathematics and science teachers is that with basic concepts from the high school curriculum and data that students can collect themselves, these questions can be answered to a high degree of accuracy.

Sharing Teaching Ideas: A Formula for Factoring

1997 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-207
Author(s):  
Kay I. Meeks Roebuck
Keyword(s):  
Science Teachers ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Sufficient Time ◽  
Evaluation Standards ◽  
Quadratic Equations ◽  
Recent Meeting ◽  
Solving Equations ◽  
Mathematics And Science Teachers ◽  
Teaching Ideas ◽  
Mathematics And Science

At a recent meeting of mathematics and science teachers, three colleagues were discussing the algebra courses at their high schools. The major topic of conversation was the amount of time to be devoted to solving quadratic equations by factoring. The three were concerned that by devoting the large number of class days necessary for students to gain proficiency at factoring by inspection or grouping, they were left without sufficient time to work with the students on other important concepts. The teachers agreed that they were stuck in a no-win situation; they accepted and supported the idea expressed in the NCTM's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (1989) that less time should be devoted to solving equations by factoring, yet other mathematics teachers within their schools would expect students to be proficient at factoring when they leave algebra.

scholarly journals Opinions of middle school science and mathematics teachers on STEM education

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-78
Author(s):  
Bekir Yildirim ◽  
Cumhur Türk
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Stem Education ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
School Science ◽  
Middle School Science ◽  
Spring Semester ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Middle School Science Teachers ◽  
Science And Mathematics Teachers

In this study, the opinions of middle school science teachers and mathematics teachers towards STEM education were examined. The research was carried out for 30 hours with 28 middle school science and mathematics teachers who were working in Istanbul during the spring semester of 2016-2017 academic year. 75% of these teachers are female teachers and 25% are male teachers. The study was conducted by the case study method among qualitative research methods. For the determination of the opinions of the secondary school science and mathematics teachers by the researcher, "STEM Interview Form for Teachers" consisting of 8 questions was created. As a result of the analysis, the teachers emphasized that they did not feel sufficient about STEM education. In addition, teachers emphasized that a good STEM teacher should have STEM knowledge, pedagogy knowledge and 21st century skill knowledge. However, they emphasize that STEM education is a useful educational concept but that there may be problems that may be encountered during STEM education. Moreover, it was also found that after the STEM training, teachers had positive changes in their opinions towards Engineering and Technology. Suggestions have been made in the direction of these obtained results.

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