The Effect of the Teaching Practiceon Pre-service ElementaryTeachers’ Science TeachingEfficacy and ClassroomManagement Beliefs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the teaching practice on preservice elementary teachers’ science teaching efficacy and classroom management beliefs. The subjects were 185 pre-service elementary teachers from two different universities in Izmir. In this study, Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-B) and the Attitudes and Beliefs on Classroom Control (ABCC) instruments were utilized to collect data. Results of the study indicated that almost all pre-service elementary teachers had high self-efficacy beliefs regarding science teaching. In addition, teaching experience did not affect pre-service elementary teachers’ science teaching efficacy beliefs. However, preservice elementary teachers’ classroom management beliefs tended to change with the teaching practice. While pre-service teachers’ beliefs related to instructional management decrease with teaching practice, their People Management beliefs increase with teaching practice.