'Can I use this?' Capacity beliefs as a way to understand success and retention

By Bob Evans, Institut for Naturfagenes Didaktik (Department of Science Education), University of Copenhagen

Pre-service training can increase the capacity beliefs of N/T teachers as they enter the profession. One such capacity belief is the self-efficacy. This is encouraging since these beliefs are associated with greater success. A Danish study has shown that changes in capacity beliefs during the first year of teaching may be related to whether teachers will continue to teach science and therefore may help identify new teachers who are more likely to drop teaching science from their teaching load. Relationships between teaching environment and new teacher self-efficacy are also substantiated. Consequently, new elementary teachers can be educated for higher capacity beliefs and possibly greater success and retention.

The seminar will be of particular relevance to those involved in teacher training -
primarily at teacher training colleges, but other kinds of teacher trainin g could
find relevance in the reflections as well.

Please notice that this seminar will be held in English.

Participation is free but registration is required: Send a mail to indsigt@ind.ku.dk no later than september 3rd.