Increasing Technology in the Classroom: The Impact of a STEM Professional Development on Teacher Self-Efficacy

• In Event: Science Teaching and Learning: Educational Technology

Abstract

When integrating technology into the classroom curriculum, teachers tend to stop at what they do not know as opposed to seeing what they could learn and how it could be beneficial. A southeastern university sponsored an intense three-day STEM professional development focused on teaching 45 PreK-12 teachers to troubleshoot and integrate 3D printing, virtual and augmented reality, coding, and robotics into their lessons. This study evaluated the impact on the teachers’ sense of self-efficacy with technology enhanced lessons and how it influenced their perception of integrating technology into their classrooms. By equipping teachers with knowledge about the technology and showing strategies on how to teach with it, participants’ self-efficacy increased and willingness to integrate technology into classroom curriculum improved.

Authors

• Amanda D Tompkins, University of South Florida

• David Rosengrant, University of South Florida