Engagement in High School Science: The Influence of National Board Certified Teachers

• In Event: Roundtable Session 26
  In Roundtable Session: Select Topics in Secondary Science Education

Abstract

As a result of the movement towards standards-based education reform, teacher certification is often used as a measure of teacher quality. The objective of this study was to examine the direct and indirect effects of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) on student engagement in high school science within an expectancy-value framework. A significant positive relationship was found between NBCT and students’ cognitive engagement in high school science. In addition, a significant positive relationship was found between students’ cognitive engagement and expectancies for success, and perceptions of task value in high school science. The findings of this study have important implications for the validity of the National Board Certification process and the assessment of science teacher quality.

Author

• Diana Janet Zaleski, Illinois State Board of Education