Influencing Factors of High School Chemistry Teachers' Understanding of STEM Education
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Abstract
There are differences in the understanding of “what is STEM education” among stakeholders such as science education experts, frontline teachers, students, and policymakers, which will not be conducive to the development and implementation of STEM education. Also little has been done to dissect the factors that influence Chinese chemistry teachers' understanding of STEM education. The data (n = 150) were collected from high school chemistry teachers in Sichuan province, China. The study systematically analyzed the current status of high school chemistry teachers' understanding of STEM education from three perspectives: ontological, epistemological, and value-based. High school chemistry teachers exhibited an optimal understanding of the value of STEM education but a poor understanding of the nature of STEM education. Further exploration of the factors influencing teachers' understanding of STEM education included professional identity, school environment, teaching practices, and perceptions of developmental characteristics. Results indicated that the technological environment of the teachers' school had the greatest influence on their understanding of STEM education. Additionally, teachers' perceptions of developmental characteristics significantly impacted their understanding of STEM education. Moreover, a stronger sense of belonging to the teaching profession correlated with a better understanding of STEM education. Finally, the experience of observing and learning was found to enhance teachers' understanding of STEM education. Conclusion, the technological environment of a teacher’s school exerts the greatest influence on their understanding of STEM education, strongly correlating with the engineering orientation inherent in STEM education. Teachers' perceptions of developmental characteristics can significantly shape their understanding of STEM education, depending largely on the lineage of STEM education's developmental history.
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