Characteristics of Educator Networking: Collegial Support and Collective Efficacy Among Health Science Educators

• In Event: Measuring and Improving the Teaching Skills of Health Professions Faculty

Abstract

This study investigated the support networks and collegiality of career technical educators working in the area of health science. Participants included 317 educators (secondary educators and individuals from the career technical sector), all part of the health science career pathway programs in the state of California. The results indicated that most of the educators reported having access to some type of support network. Also, the results of a structural equation modeling analysis indicated that respondents who reported having more educators in their program were more likely to report higher levels of collegial support and collective efficacy. Similarly, educators who reported working more with other educators on interdisciplinary curriculum projects tended to report higher levels of collegial support and collective efficacy.

Authors

• Gustavo Loera, Mental Health America of Los Angeles

• Jonathan Nakamoto, WestEd

• Robert S. Rueda, University of Southern California

• Katie Moulton, University of Southern California

• Youn Joo Oh, Education Development Center, Inc.