The Relationship between Primary School Teacher and Student Attitudes towards Science and Technology

• Published in: Education research international Vol. 2015; no. 2015; pp. 1 - 7
• Main Authors: Louws, Monika, Hasselman, Fred, Vos, Nienke, Denessen, Eddie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2015; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Behavior; Careers; Children & youth; College students; Elementary School Teachers; Elementary schools; Gender; Learning; Learning Theories; Longitudinal Studies; Mathematics education; Mathematics teachers; Science education; Secondary School Teachers; Student attitudes; Subject specialists; Teacher attitudes; Teacher education; Teaching methods; Technical Education
• ISSN: 2090-4002; 2090-4010
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/534690

This study focuses on the effects of teachers’ attitudes towards teaching about science and technology on student attitudes towards science and technology. A one-year longitudinal study involving 91 teachers and 1822 students from the higher years of Dutch primary schools showed that students develop less positive attitudes towards science and technology during their primary school years and that girls showed less positive attitudes than boys. Female teachers showed less positive attitudes towards teaching about science and technology than male teachers. Girls appeared to be susceptible of their teacher’s attitudes and especially developed less positive attitudes when their female teacher showed less enthusiasm for teaching science and technology. Implications for teacher education and teacher recruitment are discussed.