Self-efficacy is the belief that an individual is able to control the outcomes of potentially stressful situations. How teacher candidates feel about their ability to control new challenges can affect their performance in the classroom. Those with a poorer sense of self-efficacy may believe situations are out of their control. A more positive sense of perceived self-efficacy can lead to more positive outcomes. This article reports the results of a teacher self-efficacy scale administered to elementary and secondary teacher candidates at the beginning and end of their student teaching semester. Findings suggest that perceived self-efficacy among student teachers increases throughout the course of the student teaching experience.
This study presents a conceptual framework for examining the developmental stages of teachers and illustrates the differences found in student teachers as they develop. The research illustrates how by assessing a teacher candidate's own perception of importance, mastery, and desire to improve, an instrument can be used to prioritize needs at different points of a teacher's career as well as identify stages of development. The statistical data, analysis, and interpretation of a study utilizing the Teacher Need Assessment Questionnaire (TNAQ) with teacher candidates is displayed.
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