Description
TitleNovice teachers’ self-efficacy and instructional practice
Date Created2017
Other Date2017-10 (degree)
Extent1 online resource (ix, 186 p. : ill.)
DescriptionDeveloping instructional competence and self-efficacy—as with mastery of any occupation—may take years of practice. However, most districts only offer one year of induction support (Ingersoll & Kralik, 2004). Multi-year induction programs—and studies about how these multi-year programs might influence self-efficacy and instruction—are extremely rare. I serve as an administrator in a New Jersey district with a four-year induction program. The purpose of this qualitative evaluation case study was to consult the district’s second, third, and fourth-year teachers to explore their perceptions of the multi-year induction program and how they felt it influenced their self-efficacy and instructional practice. The research question guiding the study was: From a novice teacher’s perspective, in what ways does the multi-year induction program in the Robbinsville School District contribute each year to changes in his/her self-efficacy and instructional practice? Data collection included focus groups and anonymous surveys for each cohort of teachers as well as professional development evaluation forms to compare how each year of induction might have influenced teachers’ perception of their self-efficacy and instructional practice. Five themes related to the contribution of the multi-year program were identified. First, participating in the multi-year program communicated to teachers that mastery developed over time. Second, having multiple years to refine their instructional practice enabled teachers to feel more comfortable taking risks with instructional strategies and teacher leadership. Third, the program helped novices to develop instructional strategies as they progressed through each year of the program. Fourth, the induction process encouraged novices to “bridge the divide” and build relationships with fellow cohort members, veteran colleagues, and administrators. Finally, inducted novices routinely sought vicarious experiences to improve their instruction and self-efficacy. Suggestions for improvement included providing more choice in professional development, helping administrators and mentors become more aware of novices’ needs, and offering additional opportunities for vicarious learning. Study participants consistently reported that the four-year program, though it required more responsibilities than a traditional one-year program, positively influenced their self-efficacy and instructional practice each year. Findings from this study will provide insight on how to improve the design and implementation of this, and possibly other, multi-year induction programs.
NoteEd.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby Kimberly Reynolds Tew
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School of Education Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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