This study aims to explore the components necessary for developing a diagnostic tool to assess the teaching aptitude of pre-service elementary school teachers. Despite the growing emphasis on teacher competence and professionalism in education, system...
This study aims to explore the components necessary for developing a diagnostic tool to assess the teaching aptitude of pre-service elementary school teachers. Despite the growing emphasis on teacher competence and professionalism in education, systematic tools for diagnosing aptitude for teaching remain limited, and existing tools lack validity. To address these issues, this study employed the Behavioral Event Interview (BEI) method to derive components of elementary school teaching aptitude.
To sufficiently reflect the multidimensional characteristics of elementary teaching and ensure the validity of the model, the study utilized the teacher lifecycle framework (Hong et al., 2017) and divided it into four stages: entry, growth, development, and deepening. With the cooperation of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, 13 teachers representing these stages and deemed suitable for elementary teaching aptitude were recommended. The selection considered various aspects of the teaching profession, including rank and gender, to encompass diverse perspectives.
Using BEI, the study initially identified 20 components and 100 behavioral indicators related to elementary teaching aptitude. Subsequently, a focus group interview (FGI) was conducted with four of the recommended teachers to review the appropriateness of the identified components, definitions, and behavioral indicators. This process resulted in the deletion of one component and the integration of three others.
Based on the components of elementary teaching aptitude derived from the BEI and FGI, the study developed the first draft of the diagnostic tool by synthesizing behavioral characteristics extracted from prior research and interviews. To validate the developed components, an expert advisory panel was assembled, and a two-stage review process was conducted. In the first review, a content expert evaluated the overall structure and components of the model. After revisions, the second review involved two field experts and two content experts who assessed the appropriateness of the components and the validity of the measurement items. As a result, a preliminary diagnostic tool consisting of four upper categories, eight subcategories, 22 components, and 88 measurement items was completed.
A survey was conducted to secure construct validity for the preliminary diagnostic tool, and statistical verification was performed. Item analysis, reliability analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were used to examine the tool’s validity. Three measurement items deemed unsuitable were removed during this process. The final diagnostic tool was composed of four upper categories, eight subcategories, 22 components, and 85 measurement items.
The final top-level categories of the elementary teaching aptitude components were classified as knowledge, competence, values, and attitudes. The knowledge category included “understanding of elementary education” and “subject knowledge.” “Understanding of elementary education” comprised “understanding of students” and “understanding of the curriculum,” while “subject knowledge” comprised “subject content knowledge” and “pedagogical content knowledge (PCK).” The competence category included “teaching skills” and “relationship building.” “Teaching skills” encompassed “integrative lesson design,” “delivery skills,” “judgment,” “observation,” and “reflection.” “Relationship building” included “empathy,” “communication with students,” and “communication and collaboration with colleagues.” The values category consisted of “educational calling” and “respect for students.” “Educational calling” comprised “belief in educational effectiveness,” “responsibility for foundational education,” and “teaching ethics,” while “respect for students” included “affection and trust for students” and “respect and inclusion of diversity.” The attitude category consisted of “passion for teaching” and “desire for development.” “Passion for teaching” included “exploration and immersion in education” and “perseverance,” while “desire for development” included “openness to diverse experiences,” “growth orientation,” and “resilience.”
This study sought to explore valid and reliable components for developing a diagnostic tool that allows prospective teachers to assess their suitability for the teaching profession. The significance of the study is as follows. First, it derives components of elementary teaching aptitude based on practical experiences in elementary schools, offering practical value. Second, it systematically models and hierarchically presents the components of elementary teaching aptitude, expanding structural understanding. Third, the components identified in this study provide practical implications for teacher education institutions and in-service teacher training programs.
However, this study has several limitations, leading to the following recommendations. First, specific aspects of elementary teaching, such as administrative duties, were not sufficiently reflected, necessitating further research. Second, as the study focused solely on pre-service teachers, additional validation studies involving in-service teachers are required to enhance the validity of the identified components. Third, further investigation into the relationship between teaching aptitude and job performance is needed to strengthen the academic and practical value of these components. These recommendations could be addressed in subsequent studies, contributing to teacher education, recruitment, and the continuous professional development of teachers, as well as a deeper understanding of elementary teaching aptitude.