What are the experiences of early career Science/Maths/IT Teachers in Tasmania?

 

SiMERR Mentor: Dr. Natalie Brown

 

ACTIVITY TEAM

Name

Role

Natalie Brown

Chief Investigator

 

 

START/FINISH DATES (you may wish to add a timeline of key tasks)

Semester One 2007: Feb 2007-December 2007

 

 

ACTIVITY RATIONALE

 

The context for this study is the increasing National and State  emphasis on training and recruiting appropriately qualified teachers of Science (ACDS, 2002; MCEETYA, 2004; Harris, Jensz & Baldwin, 2005) coupled with the concern over separation rates of new teachers (MCEETYA, 2004). In Tasmania, this is being addressed partially through recruitment schemes for Maths/Science graduates particularly targeting rural and isolated schools. The beginning teachers of 2007 will have amongst them recipients of these graduate recruitment positions, which have included an acceleration in salary scale and opportunity for permanency.

 

Through a large scale survey instrument and a parallel case study approach, this study will investigate the experiences of recently graduated Science/Mathematics/IT teachers. Graduates from the past 5 years will be invited to participate in a survey and/or interview gathering  data to identify specific issues faced by these teachers in order to make recommendations for how best to prepare and support early career  teachers.

 

 The study has received in-principle support from the Human Resources branch of the Department of Education.

 

 

 

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

Plan

February – April  2007

1.      Preparation of questionnaire/interview schedule

2.      Ethics application and approval UTas/DoE

3.      Call for expressions of interest from recent graduates

May – July 2007

4.      Recruit teacher participants

5.      Conduct initial questionnaires

6.      Process data from initial questionnaires

7.      Organise follow-up interviews

July – August  2007

8.      Conduct follow up interviews, in person in schools

9.      Process data from follow-up interviews

October – November  2007

10.  Short final written questionnaires

December  2007 – February 2008

11.  Analysis of data

12.  Write up journal article/conference presentation

July 2008

13.  Presentation of an article at ASERA 2008 and one other conference.

 

 

ACTIVITY DELIVERABLES AND OUTCOMES

At least one conference paper (ASERA 2008).

At least one journal article.

Important data for assistance in continuing development of Grad Cert of Coaching & Mentoring

 

ACTIVITY CONSTRAINTS AND RISKS

Risk

Probability

Impact

Strategy

Too few graduates nominate

Low

High

If there are insufficient voluntary participants from the Science/Maths/IT cohort, broaden to include Middle school graduates

Time constraints in schools

Medium

Low

Questionnaires short – able to be completed on-line. Relief provided for short interviews in schools. Able to interview out of school hours if required.

Lack of ongoing participation

Low

Medium

Data gathered at each stage can stand alone if necessary

Loss of participating teacher through leave, ill health etc affecting interview data

Medium

High

Attempt to recruit up to 10 teachers to allow for this.

 

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 Nil

 

 

EVALUATION PROCESSES

 

Five  research questions will be explored:

 

  1. What are the lived experiences of new Science/Maths/IT teaching graduates as they begin their teaching careers?
  2. What support processes are successful in assisting first year Science/Maths/IT teachers?
  3. What elements of their teacher preparation are useful for assisting graduate teachers in their first years of teaching? What other elements should be included?
  4. What recommendations would the graduate teachers make to improve their early career  experience?
  5. What factors influence early career teachers’ decisions to continue or exit teaching as a career?

The research methodology will be developed with a pragmatist underpinning and adopt a mixed methods approach. Qualitative and quantitative (in the form of Likert scale questions) data will be collected using questionnaires and short interviews. Qualitative data will be analysed to look for emerging themes.

 

An attempt will be made to contact all graduating B.Tch students of Science/Maths/IT since 2001, providing this receives approval from the ethics committee. In the event that this is not possible, all graduating students who are currently employed (or on leave from) the Department of Education will be contacted through the Human Resources department. A letter of invitation, an information sheet and the questionnaire will be sent to these people.

 

It is envisaged that up to ten graduates will be recruited into the interview phase of the study following completion of the initial questionnaire. The graduates will be selected, if possible, to cover those in rural, isolated and metropolitan areas. It is envisaged that at least four of the teachers taking part in the interview will be first year teachers. In these cases it is anticipated that a follow up interview will take place several months later, in the school of the participant.

 

 

 

DISSEMINATION

 

The study data will be analysed and lead to a presentation at the ASERA conference in 2008 and submission of one article to a referred journal.

 

A report will also be sent to the Department of Education.

 

 

 

 

References

ACDS, 2002; Science at the Crossroads? Retrieved December 19, 2006 from http://www.acds.edu.au

Harris, K., Jensz F. & Baldwin, G.,  2005. Who’s Teaching Science? Centre for Higher Education, University of Melbourne.

MCEETYA, 2004.  Demand and Supply of Primary and Secondary Teachers in Australia. Retrieved, December 19, 2006 from http://www.mceetya.edu.au/verve/_resources/chapter8.pdf