Investigating pre-service teachers' self efficacy beliefs in STEM fields

Abstract

The subject of self-efficacy beliefs has been studied for over four decades now. The purpose of this study was to explore pre-service self-efficacy beliefs in Math and Science (STEM fields) in the context of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) courses at a private university in Lebanon. A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was adopted and a purposive sample of 22 pre-service teachers was selected for the study. Two quantitative instruments, the Mathematics Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Instrument (MTEBI) and the Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Instrument (STEBI-B) were administered, pre-and post, to determine the levels of the pre-service teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs. For the qualitative data, participants wrote reflections on the PCK methods course 3 times during the semester and were interviewed at the beginning and at the end of the semester about the changes in their efficacy beliefs, namely in the Personal Math Teaching Efficacy Beliefs (PMTE), Personal Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs (PSTE), Personal Science Outcome Expectancy (STOE), and Math Teaching Outcome Expectancy (MTOE). Findings indicate somewhat significant changes in PMTE, MTOE, and STOE as a result of teaching experiences during PCK courses, whereas the changes in PSTE were less influenced than in the other subfields. Moreover, STOE has improved for all branches, whereas PMTE, PSTE, MTOE’s change varied between the branches. These changes were represented by a shift in teachers’ perceptions concerning their abilities to teach math and science and the proficiency with which they can teach these subjects.