Effects of subject-area degree and classroom experience on new chemistry teachers' subject matter knowledge

Science teachers need to understand the subject matter they teach. While subject matter knowledge (SMK) can improve with classroom teaching experience, it is problematic that many secondary science teachers leave the profession before garnering extensive classroom experience. Furthermore, many new s...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:International journal of science education Jg. 38; H. 10; S. 1636 - 1654
Hauptverfasser: Nixon, Ryan S., Campbell, Benjamin K., Luft, Julie A.
Format: Journal Article
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: London Routledge 02.07.2016
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Schlagworte:
Academic Degrees
Beginning Teachers
Biology
Career Change
Chemistry
classroom experience
Classrooms
Experience
Interviews
Knowledge Level
Majors (Students)
new science teachers
Organic Chemistry
Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Qualitative Research
Science
Science education
Science Instruction
Science Teachers
Secondary School Science
Secondary School Teachers
Semi Structured Interviews
Subject matter knowledge
Teachers
Teaching
Teaching Experience
United States (Southeast)
ISSN:0950-0693, 1464-5289
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Science teachers need to understand the subject matter they teach. While subject matter knowledge (SMK) can improve with classroom teaching experience, it is problematic that many secondary science teachers leave the profession before garnering extensive classroom experience. Furthermore, many new science teachers are assigned to teach science subjects for which they do not hold a degree. This study investigates the SMK of new secondary science teachers assigned to teach chemistry in their first three years of teaching. These new teachers do not have the advantage of years of experience to develop their SMK and half hold a degree in biology rather than chemistry. This qualitative study explores the effects of holding a degree in the subject area one teaches as well as classroom teaching experience on teachers' SMK for two chemistry topics, conservation of mass and chemical equilibrium. Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews indicated that the SMK of teachers who had a chemistry degree and more extensive classroom experience was more coherent, chemistry-focused, and sophisticated than that of teachers who lacked this preparation and experience. This study provides evidence that new science teachers' SMK is influenced by both holding a degree in the subject area and having classroom experience.
Bibliographie:SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 14
ISSN:0950-0693
1464-5289
DOI:10.1080/09500693.2016.1204482