Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Science--Study and teaching (Elementary); Science--Study and teaching (Secondary);
Abstract
The problem that was considered in the study was whether the role of the science supervisor was perceived differently by secondary and elementary teachers of science.
A fifty-four item questionnaire was developed. The items on the questionnaire consisted of statements of tasks which a science supervisor could do, and the teachers were asked to respond on a scale of opinion if they considered this task a role of the science supervisor.
The sample represented five school systems in Iowa which employ a science supervisor. Questionnaires were sent to 156 secondary science teachers and 153 elementary teachers. Ninety-five of all the elementary teachers sampled returned the questionnaire, and 102 of the secondary teachers returned the questionnaire.
The results of the questionnaire were analyzed by comparing the mode distribution on each item between the two groups.
The roles of the science supervisor were identified from the replies on the questionnaire. Twenty-seven of the items were agreed upon by both groups as roles of the science supervisor. Eighteen of the items were agreed upon by both groups but with one or both groups expressing some reservations. Three items were disagreed with as roles of the science supervisor by both groups. Six items resulted in differences of opinion between the two groups as to whether the task described was a role of the science supervisor.
The conclusion reached was that the role of the science supervisor was perceived differently by elementary and secondary teachers primarily because of differences in their science background, The elementary teachers, who had minimal science training, expressed a desire for more assistance from the science supervisor than did the secondary teachers. The well-trained secondary teachers expressed opinion that many of the roles described for the science supervisor could be done by themselves. The elementary teachers wanted to be considered generalists and not special subject teachers. Both groups were of the opinion that they wanted a well-trained science supervisor who would be a spokesman for the teachers and who would assist them in developing a strong science program.
As a result of the study the following recommendations were made to science supervisors. 1. The science supervisor should be aware that elementary teachers would like all the assistance possible in the teaching of science. 2. The science supervisor should be aware that secondary teachers often feel they can do without the assistance of the science supervisor.
The following recommendations for further study were made. 1. Further study should be made to determine the effectiveness of science supervisors in a school system. 2. Further study should be made to determine the number of teachers that a science supervisor can effectively supervise. 3. Further study should be made to determine ways of increasing the science training in the preparation of elementary teachers. 4. Further study should be made to determine the attitude of elementary and secondary teachers toward science supervisors and the teaching of science.
Year of Submission
1971
Degree Name
Specialist in Education
Department
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Department
Department of Chemistry
First Advisor
Erwin Richter
Date Original
1971
Object Description
1 PDF file (102 pages)
Copyright
©1971 Thomas Graika
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Graika, Thomas, "The Role of the Science Supervisor as Perceived by Elementary and Secondary Science Teachers" (1971). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 1531.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/1531
Comments
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