According to 2009-revised national curriculum, high school "science" subject is a balanced fusion of the basic concept of physics, chemistry, life science, and earth science (The ministry of education, science, and technology, 2009). To overcome the l...
According to 2009-revised national curriculum, high school "science" subject is a balanced fusion of the basic concept of physics, chemistry, life science, and earth science (The ministry of education, science, and technology, 2009). To overcome the limitation of departmental curriculum and encourage the purpose "fusing science", high school science teachers' positive attitude toward teaching non-major field of science has to be cultivated, and teaching anxiety about non-major field of science has to be decreased.
In this regard, a survey was conducted to 109 high school science teachers in Seoul, Gyunggi and Gangwon area. And the contents of the survey are composed of teaching anxiety and Teaching attitude towards teaching about non-major field of science. Based on the differences between the teachers variable (gender, education level, teaching careers, and majors), the relationship between the teaching attitude of science and its teaching anxiety were analyzed. The result of this study is as following;
First, high school science teachers considered non-major field of science as important as their major field of science and took major efforts to incorporate positive teaching attitudes toward non-major field of science; however, non-major field of science class took more effort and time to prepare class. Educational and teaching career did not have great influence on high school teachers’ teaching attitude toward teaching non-major field of science. Gender and major had a significant influence on the teaching attitude. Male teachers were more comfortable teaching non-major field of science than female teachers. Also, general science dually majored teachers had more confidence teaching non-major filed of science than single majored teachers. Furthermore, general science dually majored teachers considered non-major field science laboratory class and felt class preparation for non-major field of science class relatively easy.
Second, when it comes to teaching non-major field of science, teaching anxiety gets worse, and state anxiety was stronger than trait anxiety. Educational and teaching career did not great influence impact on this anxiety, but gender and major had a significant relationship with the anxiety. Female teachers had higher anxiety about teaching non-major field of science and occupational responsibility. General science dually majored teachers had lower anxiety and higher confidence than single majored teachers teaching non-major field of science.
Lastly, the relationship between high school teachers’ attitude toward teaching non-major field of science and teaching anxiety about non-major field of science showed a negative correlation. The less anxiety factors the teachers have, the more stable and positive attitude towards class, and class preparation the teachers have.
As the study shows that general science dually majored teachers had more positive teaching attitude, dually major should be encouraged and institutionalized in science teacher training courses, and administrative/financial system to go to graduate school for single majored teachers.
Also, class consulting should consider the differences in each science major to improve teaching attitude of science teachers and to reduce anxiety about teaching science which can improve the quality of future science education.