Novice Teachers Competency Through Scientific Research

Abstract

The transformation of a teacher's portrait is postulated by the changes happening in society, thus a contemporary teacher is a person equipped with techniques of scientific oeuvre and having flexible mind to adapt to requirements of a professional environment. The graduate of teacher training programs is supposed to apply theoretical knowledge and experience; to use research design; to conduct qualitative, quantitative and practitioner research. To shape competent teacher stakeholders have to create the motivating environment that provokes novice teachers' loyalty to scientific work, strive to initiate individual research as a factor to boost professional development. The paper aims to give a comprehensive account of Science immersion environment (SIE) in providing appropriate conditions and benefits for novice teachers to enhance their scientific involvement. The basic advantage of SIE is to create fertile ground for profound scientific investigation. The study which lasted 18 months was conducted within the foreign languages department involving 32 novice teachers of KFU. Our two-stage survey provided data for the analysis. The survey demonstrated no strong motive of novice teachers to write scientific papers. However, SIE caused gradual increase in the number of published papers produced by novice teachers. They admitted that all measures taken had a great impact on establishing their way in the scientific community and SEI was said to be an effective tool. The authors observed positive approach to broadening scientific potential and professional lifework of novice teachers. The study proved that novice teachers competency could be achieved through scientific research by forming well-functioning SIE.