Manuscript focusing on teachers' ownership of science and engineering practices aligned with NGSS

What is it about?

The study aimed to unravel the degree to which scientific and engineering practices complied with the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) were present in the performance of physics teachers at the secondary stage in Taif city, Saudi Arabia. The study also sought to identify the effect of the qualification and years of experience variables on the degree to which the NGSS-aligned practices were present in the performance of physics teachers. The study adopted a mixed method in applying a closed-ended questionnaire and an interview. The questionnaire comprised 44 indicators and was applied to (49) teachers who were randomly selected. The interview was applied to (6) education supervisors who were purposively selected. The results revealed that the following five practices: “asking questions and identifying problems”; “obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information”; “planning and carrying out investigations”; “analyzing and interpreting data”; and “involvement with proofs and evidence” all rated medium. The three practices, “interpretation and solutions design”; “developing and using models”; and “using mathematics and computational thinking” all rated weak. Data analysis of education supervisors’ interviews revealed that their opinions were, to an extent, concordant with the questionnaire findings. The results also revealed that graduate teachers exhibited a higher level of these practices than the teachers with just BS degrees while years of experience, as a variable, had no significant difference in teachers’ use of these practices. It was concluded that teachers of physics need to reconsider their teaching practices to be aligned with NGSS. This study can be a contribution to teachers’ professional development efforts that target the alignment of science instruction with the NGSS.

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Photo by Tra Nguyen on Unsplash

Photo by Tra Nguyen on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The teachers need sufficient support to enable them to completely understand these practices in a way that complies with the NGSS so as to eventually be able to help their students acquire them. This support can be achieved when the Ministry of Education takes into consideration these practices and train teachers in them. The courses offered by colleges of education also need to be reshaped in a way that prepares physics teachers in light of the NGSS. Finally, there is also a need to practically apply these practices in the teacher-training programs before and during service. It is recommended that similar studies are applied to the teachers of the primary and elementary stages.

Perspectives