Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Research Articles

Association between pre-service science teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs and their confidence in physics content

This exploratory study examined the relationship between the knowledge of selected physics concepts from the South African National Senior Certificate curriculum and the self-efficacy beliefs of preservice science teachers. Forty-one preservice physical science teachers between the ages of 16 and 30 enrolled in a higher education institution to earn a Bachelor of Education degree made up the participants. Of these, 56.1% were female and 43.9% were male. Every respondent was a recent high school graduate from South Africa enrolled in a second-year university course on basic physical science. The preservice teachers completed the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-B) and a teaching confidence ranking scale. A confidence ranking for teaching topics from a typical high school science curriculum was determined by analyzing the data. According to the data analysis, preservice teachers are confident and self-sufficient enough to teach science concepts.

Adapting a self-efficacy scale to the task of teaching scientific reasoning: collecting evidence for its psychometric quality using Rasch measurement.

Besides teachers' professional knowledge, their self-efficacy is a crucial aspect in promoting students' scientific reasoning (SR). However, because no measurement instrument has yet been published that specifically refers to self-efficacy beliefs regarding the task of teaching SR, we adapted the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI) accordingly, resulting in the Teaching Scientific Reasoning Efficacy Beliefs Instrument (TSR-EBI). While the conceptual framework of the TSR-EBI is comparable to that of the STEBI in general terms, it goes beyond it in terms of specificity, acknowledging the fact that teaching SR requires very specific knowledge and skills that are not necessarily needed to the same extent for promoting other competencies in science education. To evaluate the TSR-EBI's psychometric quality, we conducted two rounds of validation. Both samples (N1 = 114; N2 = 74) consisted of pre-service teachers enrolled in university master's programs in Germany. The collected data were analyzed by applying Rasch analysis and known-group comparisons. In the course of an analysis of the TSR-EBI's internal structure, we found a 3-category scale to be superior to a 5-category structure. The person and item reliability of the scale proved to be satisfactory. Furthermore, during the second round of validation, it became clear that the results previously found for the 3-category scale were generally replicable across a new (but comparable) sample, which clearly supports the TSR-EBI's psychometric quality. Moreover, in terms of test-criterion relationships, the scale was also able to discriminate between groups that are assumed to have different levels of self-efficacy regarding teaching SR. Nonetheless, some findings also suggest that the scale might benefit from having the selection of individual items reconsidered (despite acceptable item fit statistics). On balance, however, we believe that the TSR-EBI has the potential to provide valuable insights in future studies regarding factors that influence teachers' self-efficacy, such as their professional experiences, prior training, or perceived barriers to effective teaching.

Pre-service elementary teachers’ science and engineering teaching self-efficacy and outcome expectancy: exploring the impacts of efficacy source experiences through varying course modalities

BackgroundTeacher efficacy is one of the most influential components for effective instruction, highlighting the importance of providing preservice teachers (PSTs) with opportunities to learn how to teach engineering during their college preparatory coursework. Making space for engineering instruction within science methods coursework could provide opportunities for PSTs to enhance their engineering teaching efficacy but also requires course instructors to give up some time previously devoted to science-focused instruction. The purpose of the current study was to explore how infusing engineering learning opportunities into a science methods course impacts PSTs’ engineering and science teaching efficacy and outcome expectancy.ResultsPre/post-surveys were completed by PSTs enrolled in a Kindergarten-8th grade science methods course offered in four modalities (i.e., face-to-face, hybrid, online, rapid shift online). The course offered multiple engineering-focused learning activities and vicarious experiences. PSTs’ science teaching efficacy beliefs, engineering teaching efficacy beliefs, science teaching outcome expectancy, and engineering teaching outcome expectancy all significantly increased from pre- to post-test. There was no significant difference between efficacy gains based on course modality. The purposeful inclusion of multiple engineering activities and vicarious experiences allows for significant gains in science and engineering teaching efficacy and outcome expectancy regardless of the modality in which the course is taken.ConclusionsThis study shows that having varied efficacy source experiences while learning engineering design can result in increased efficacy, even in the absence of field experience and face-to-face coursework, and that the inclusion of these engineering experiences with science methods coursework does not detract from enhancing science teaching efficacy beliefs and outcome expectancy. Further research is needed to more closely examine individual components of science methods courses and the impacts each component has when implemented using different course modalities.

Does Pre-Service Elementary Teachers’ Attitude Towards Science Affect Their Science Teaching Efficacy?

The Primary School Teacher Education Study Programme is responsible for preparing community members who have academic qualifications and competencies as learning agents. This readiness is the main capital for students to do the work of a teacher. In providing education to students, a teacher should have self-efficacy. This research is a quantitative study with an ex-post facto research type. The objectives of this study determine whether there is an effect of attitudes toward science on the efficacy of teaching science subjects. 147 4th-semester students majoring in Elementary School Teacher Education, Yogyakarta State University, were involved. The data collection technique used a questionnaire using a Dimensions of Attitude Towards Science (DAS) Instrument and The Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-B). The study revealed a significant influence between attitudes toward science and the science teaching efficacy of elementary school teacher education students. The results of the analysis revealed that the coefficient of determination is 0.322, which means that 32.2% of variations in science teaching efficacy can be explained by attitude towards science.

Relations between Australian primary teachers’ approaches to student choice and their reported science teaching efficacy beliefs and teaching practices

ABSTRACT As a myriad of student-centred practices in primary science education have been established as valuable, effective cornerstones of teachers’ repertoires, there is now space to further consider student choice in science education. This paper seeks to examine the role of student choice in primary science education by exploring the relationship between primary teachers’ attitudes towards student-choice (minimal, emergent, and planned) and their science teaching efficacy beliefs and reported science teaching practices. A sample of 206 Australian primary teachers responded to a digital quantitative survey comprised of items that included professional demographics, the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument A (STEBI-A), science teaching approaches, and student-choice in science teaching. Descriptive statistics, T-tests, ANOVAs and Chi Squares were used in data analysis. The results showed that teachers who reportedly embraced student-choice were more efficacious and reported more expansive arrays of science teaching approaches than those who purported to minimise choice. Although there is a need for follow-up proximal research to elucidate these findings, some speculative interpretations and recommendations are discussed.

Examining the Metropolitan and Non-metropolitan Educational Divide: Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs and Teaching Practices of Australian Primary Science Educators

The provision of quality science education is a global priority beset by longstanding challenges, which can be amplified in rural and regional contexts. This creates a dual problem where stakeholders must focus on the improvement of science education outcomes whilst being cognisant of the established divided between metropolitan and non-metropolitan learners. Considering the recent positive TIMSS results which showed equitable science results for regional, remote and metropolitan Australian year 4 students, this paper aims to examine the relationship between primary teachers’ school location and their science teaching efficacy beliefs and reported science teaching practices. A total of 206 Australian primary science educators responded to a cross sectional quantitative survey. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square analyses found no statistically significant differences between metropolitan and non-metropolitan teachers on measures of science teaching efficacy beliefs and reported science teaching approaches. This apparent contradiction of established research themes merits deeper school and student-focused research to understand the practical implications that could arise from these findings.

Examining Science and Technology/Engineering Educators' Views of Teaching Biomedical Concepts Through Physical Computing.

Programming and automation continue to evolve rapidly and advance the capabilities of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. However, physical computing (the integration of programming and interactive physical devices) integrated within biomedical contexts remains an area of limited focus in secondary STEM education programs. As this is an emerging area, many educators may not be well prepared to teach physical computing concepts within authentic biomedical contexts. This shortcoming provided the rationale for this study, to examine if professional development (PD) had a noticeable influence on high school science and technology and engineering (T&E) teachers’ (1) perceptions of teaching biomedical and computational thinking (CT) concepts and (2) plans to integrate physical computing within the context of authentic biomedical engineering challenges. The findings revealed a significant difference in the amount of biomedical and CT concepts that teachers planned to implement as a result of the PD. Using a modified version of the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-A) Riggs and Enochs in Science Education, 74(6), 625–637 (1990), analyses revealed significant gains in teachers’ self-efficacy toward teaching both biomedical and CT concepts from the PD. Further analyses revealed that teachers reported increases in their perceived knowledge of biomedical and CT concepts and a significant increase in their intent to collaborate with a science or T&E educator outside of their content area. This study provides implications for researchers and educators to integrate more biomedical and physical computing instruction at the secondary education level.

Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs of Palestinian Elementary Education Students

To assess elementary education students’ self-efficacy beliefs in science teaching, the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument developed by Enochs and Riggs was used. The instrument consisted of two scales, Personal Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Scale and the Outcome Expectancy Scale. It was administered to 90 undergraduate university students majoring in elementary education at a large public Palestinian university. Results indicated that students’ self-efficacy beliefs in science teaching were comparable to those reported in the original study by Enochs and Riggs. Overall, the participants presented moderate to high self-efficacy in science teaching.

Examining the efficacy change of preservice science teachers: does an inquiry-based laboratory instruction make a difference? A mixed method study

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to examine the effectiveness of an inquiry-based laboratory course on preservice science teachers’ (PSTs’) science teaching efficacy beliefs. Second, this study also aimed to identify the ways in which efficacy change occurred in instructional strategies, classroom management, and student engagement for PSTs after participating in a semester-long inquiry-based laboratory course. A mixed-method approach was employed in this study. Data were collected through Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) and semi-structured interviews. TSES was administered to 52 junior PSTs. Based on their initial levels of teaching efficacy (low, medium, high) determined by the TSES, three participants within each group were interviewed to obtain detailed insights regarding their science teaching efficacy. Quantitative data analysis suggested that PSTs’ science teaching efficacy beliefs regarding student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management increased at the end of the course. Qualitative data analyses revealed that most PSTs expressed increased efficacy in sub-dimensions of teaching efficacy. Exceptional findings emerged delineating little or no efficacy change particularly in classroom management due to the discomfort with adapting to the inquiry-based laboratory method and lack of teaching practice in a real classroom environment. Results were discussed and suggestions for future research were provided.

INVESTIGATION OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ TEACHING EFFICACY BELIEFS: A MULTI-VARIANCE ANALYSIS

Öğretim yeterliği, öğretmenlerin öğretim hakkında ne düşündüklerini, kendilerini nasıl motive ettiklerini ve sınıfta nasıl davrandıklarını etkiler. Fen öğretimi bağlamında yeterlik inancının iki boyutu vardır: kişisel fen öğretimi özyeterliği ve fen öğretimi sonuç beklentisidir. Bu çerçevede öğretmen adaylarının fen öğretimi öz yeterliği ve sonuç beklentisi inançlarının incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmada betimsel araştırma desenlerinden kesitsel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırma örneklemi Orta Anadolu bölgesinde öğrenim görmekte olan ve lisans dönemi boyunca en az bir defa fen bilimleri dersi almış öğretmen adayları arasından rastgele seçilmiştir. Verilerin elde edilmesinde kişisel bilgi formu ve fen öğretimi yeterlik inanç ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Öğretmen adaylarının fen öğretimi öz yeterlik ve fen öğretimi sonuç beklentisi inançları üzerinde bağımsız değişkenlerin (öğrenim görülen bölüm, cinsiyet ve sınıf düzeyi) etkisi ayrı ayrı ve birlikte çift yönlü MANOVA testi ile incelenmiştir. Öğretmen adaylarının fen öğretimi öz yeterlik ve fen öğretimi sonuç beklentisi inançları öğrenim gördükleri bölüme göre farklılaşmaktadır. Sınıf düzeylerine göre öğretmen adaylarının fen öğretiminde sonuç beklentilerinde son sınıf öğretmen adayları lehine farklılık göstermiştir. Fakat fen öğretimi özyeterlik inançlarında farklılık görülmemiştir. Öğretmen adaylarının fen öğretimi yeterlik inançlarının desteklenmesi için fen ve öğretimine yönelik derslerin sayısı arttırılabilir. Öğretmen eğitim programlarında önemli miktarda alan bilgisi ile mesleki deneyimlerine daha fazla vurgu yapılması fen eğitiminin kalitesini arttırabilir.

Examining the influence that safety training format has on educators’ perceptions of safer practices in makerspaces and integrated STEM labs

Introduction: The rising popularity of makerspaces and integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education labs has increased the safety/health hazards and resulting potential risks that schools, libraries, community centers, and educators must be prepared to address. Previous studies have demonstrated that adequate safety training can enhance educators’ safety perceptions and reduce accident rates. Method: Safety training was conducted in three different U.S. states for 48 educators working in K-12 STEM areas. Differences in the mode of delivery, length of the training, and types of hands-on activities instituted at each training site were examined in relation to the level of influence these factors had on educators’ safety perceptions. A modified version of the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI) was used, which had previously been adapted for similar safety studies and showed strong reliability measures. Results: The pre- and post-survey responses revealed that educators at the fully online and shortest training session did not experience significant changes in their safety perceptions. However, participants at the two face-to-face sites demonstrated significant gains in their safety perceptions. Most notably, the site that offered the longest training and integrated the most hands-on lab activities recorded the greatest gains. Additionally, correlational analyses corroborated that as the amount of hands-on activities and length of the trainings increased, there was a positive significant association with changes in educators’ safety perceptions. Conclusions: This research helps bridge the gap between industry and K-12 STEM education research regarding better safety training practices. The findings from this study can help promote safer teaching and learning environments, while also reducing liability and the chance of a serious accident. Practical Applications: State departments, higher education institutions, teacher education programs, school districts, and others providing STEM safety training to K-12 educators should utilize this research to reexamine their safety training policies and practices.

Changes and Sources of Changes of Middle School Teachers’ Self-efficacy for Teaching Science in A Computationally Rich Environment: A Mixed-Methods Study

ABSTRACT The inclusion of computational thinking (CT) into science curricula has advocated implementing a computationally rich science learning environment where students learn science via building models in a computer programming platform. Such an approach may influence teachers’ self-efficacy for teaching science which may also be associated with their self-efficacy for teaching CT. Framed using Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, this study investigated the changes and sources of changes of Indonesian teachers’ self-efficacy for teaching science and CT and looking at whether the two constructs are correlated. A total of eleven Indonesian middle school science teachers (seven in-service and four pre-service) participated in a CT-integrated science instruction workshop. They then implemented the curriculum they learned and obtained from the workshop in their classrooms. The teachers took questionnaires on science and CT teaching efficacy beliefs four times: before and after the workshop and before and after they taught. As a follow-up, interviews and writing reflections were collected after they took the instruments. Skillings-Mack and repeated-measures correlation tests were run on the quantitative data, and the qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results from quantitative analyses revealed a pattern of increasing teachers’ self-efficacy for teaching science and CT in a computationally rich environment over the administrations of the instrument. Thematic analysis showed three sources of teachers’ self-efficacy: computer programming experience, students’ interests, and teaching repetition and field experience. This study calls attention to the importance of providing experience for teachers to teach science in a computationally rich environment, whether through professional development or teacher education programs.

Creative Science Through Inquiry: Improving Teacher Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectancy Through Adaptable, Mystery-Based Professional Development

Teacher self-efficacy is an important contributor to student outcomes, school climate and teacher retention. Outcome expectancy, a construct studied more commonly in health- and behaviour-related fields, may also positively impact school-related outcomes. Research shows that professional development can increase teacher confidence, but few studies have considered this connection for science-focused professional development, specifically. Our study assesses the impact of a science-focused, mystery-based professional development workshop for upper-elementary to high-school teachers. The hands-on, collaborative nature of this workshop allowed for generalisability to classrooms of various ability levels. Using the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument-A (STEBI-A) as a measure of science-teaching self-efficacy and outcome expectancy, we found that participants’ self-reported self-efficacy and outcome expectancy significantly increased (p < .001 for each) over the course of the two-week workshop. This outcome is especially relevant to schools and districts interested in improving student outcomes, school climate and teacher retention rates.

An alternative to STEBI-A: validation of the T-STEM science scale

BackgroundThe Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument A (STEBI-A; Riggs & Enochs, 1990 in Science Education, 74(6), 625-637) has been the dominant measurement tool of in-service science teacher self-efficacy and outcome expectancy for nearly 30 years. However, concerns about certain aspects of the STEBI-A have arisen, including the wording, validity, reliability, and dimensionality. In the present study, we revised the STEBI-A by addressing many concerns research has identified, and developed a new instrument called the T-STEM Science Scale. The T-STEM Science Scale was reviewed by expert panels and piloted first before it was administered to 727 elementary and secondary science teachers. The combination of classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT) approaches were used to validate the instrument. Multidimensional Rasch analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were run.ResultsBased on the results, the negatively worded items were found to be problematic and thus removed from the instrument. We also found that the three-dimensional model fit our data the best, in line with our theoretical conceptualization. Based on the literature review and analysis, although the personal science teaching efficacy beliefs (PTSEB) construct remained intact, the original outcome expectancy construct was renamed science teacher responsibility for learning outcomes beliefs (STRLOB) and was divided into two dimensions, above- and below-average student interest or performance. The T-STEM Science Scale had satisfactory reliability values as well.ConclusionsThrough the development and validation of the T-STEM Science Scale, we have addressed some critical concerns emergent from prior research concerning the STEBI-A. Psychometrically, the refinement of the wording, item removal, and the separation into three constructs have resulted in better reliability values compared to STEBI-A. While two distinct theoretical foundations are now used to explain the constructs of the new T-STEM instrument, prior literature and our empirical results note the important interrelationship of these constructs. The preservation of these constructs preserves a bridge, though imperfect, to the large body of legacy research using the STEBI-A.

What are they bringing with them? Understanding past science experiences of preservice elementary teachers and what they mean for the science methods course

AbstractThis study sought to better understand how past science learning experiences affected preservice elementary teachers, both in terms of their own self‐efficacy and their perceptions of science teaching and learning at the beginning of their science methods course. Following an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, this study first involved the collection of quantitative data and then the collection of more in‐depth qualitative data. In the first phase, the quantitative data included the Draw‐a‐Science‐Teacher‐Test Checklist (DASTT‐C) and the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI‐B) of preservice elementary teachers. In the second phase of this study, selected science autobiographies written by these same preservice elementary teachers, were explored based on extremely high or low scores on one of the STEBI‐B subscales and the DASTT‐C. Based on the findings, these preservice elementary teachers used their past experiences with science as a foundation for how they perceived science and its instruction in the elementary classroom. Overall, these preservice elementary teachers have a desire to make science in the elementary grades a positive experience for their future students.

A Course-Based Teaching Experience for STEM Undergraduates Improves Student Perceptions of Teaching Self-Efficacy and Attitudes Toward Teaching Careers.

There is a national need to recruit more science teachers. Enhancing pathways to teaching for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors could help to address this need. The Learn By Doing Lab is a course in which STEM undergraduates teach hands-on life science and physical science to local third- through eighth-grade schoolchildren visiting the campus. To measure the impacts of this teaching experience on the undergraduate participants, we administered a version of the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument-Preservice survey at the start and end of the course. Significant gains were observed in the students’ belief in their personal ability to effectively teach science (self-efficacy). Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative analysis of student reflections revealed that they perceived the Learn By Doing Lab experience to have helped them develop 21st-century competencies, particularly in the areas of collaboration, communication, and adaptability. Finally, the students’ overall awareness and positive perception of science teaching careers increased. This indicates that providing a low-barrier course-based teaching experience for STEM undergraduates is a promising strategy to help recruit pre-service teachers, and a step toward alleviating the national STEM teacher shortage.

Assessment of Greek Pre-service Primary Teachers’ Efficacy Beliefs in Physics Teaching

ABSTRACT International research shows that primary school teachers don’t have the necessary level of self-efficacy to provide high quality science learning and teaching opportunities to their students. The aim of the present study is to validate the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-B) and to investigate the self-efficacy beliefs of 408 Greek pre-service primary teachers to teach physics. The STEBI-B assesses two dimensions: Personal Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs (PSTEB) and Science Teaching Outcome Expectancy (STOE). An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis substantiated this 2-factor structure. Moreover, results revealed that gender and year of study did not have a significant effect on Personal Physics Teaching Efficacy Beliefs (PPTEB) or Physics Teaching Outcome Expectancy (PTOE). On the contrary, high school course specialization had an effect on PPTEB. Both self-efficacy dimensions were positively correlated with variables such as interest in the subject of physics, interest in teaching physics, general self-efficacy in teaching physics, self-related knowledge in concepts of physics and self-related effectiveness in teaching physics. The findings also showed that variables such as interest in physics and self-related effectiveness in physics teaching were predictors of the PPTEB and PTOE dimensions. The discussion presents implications for the organization, structure, and dynamics of elementary teacher preparations. The limitations section acknowledges the weaknesses that restrict the applicability of the findings to other contexts.

Extending Technology Acceptance Model with Scientific Epistemological and Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs: A Study with Preservice Teachers

The technology acceptance model (TAM) is a widely used framework to investigate factors influencing technology use in education. TAM refers to a person’s technology-related attitudes and beliefs influencing intention to use and actual use of technology and seeks predictors of behaviors whether to accept or reject using technology. There are various external variables extended to TAM to increase the predictivity of the model and the generalizability of findings. However, what is not yet clear is the impact of teacher-related variables such as teaching efficacy and epistemological beliefs on teachers’ technology acceptance and behavioral intention. This study examined 710 preservice teachers’ technology acceptance using an extended-TAM with scientific epistemological and science teaching efficacy beliefs. Data were collected through a self-reported measurement tool. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data. Results revealed that the research model explained 59% of the variance in behavioral intention, and perceived usefulness is the most prominent determinant of behavioral intention. The subdimension of scientific epistemological beliefs, justification, is the strongest determinant in influencing TAM constructs among the external variables (epistemological and science teaching efficacy beliefs). Science teaching efficacy beliefs had small effects on technology acceptance constructs. Recommendations were made based on the findings.

Developing Pre-service Elementary Science Teachers’ Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs through Microteaching by Promoting Efficacy Sources

Science teaching efficacy belief (STEB) is of paramount importance as it motivates teachers to teach science or hinders them from teaching science. Pre-service teachers' efficacy beliefs may change during their method courses. Knowing how pre-service teachers' beliefs change over time can significantly contribute to teacher educators to improve teacher efficacy. This study examined the effect of microteaching on pre-service elementary science teachers' STEB. Pretest-posttest control group design was utilized. Data was collected using the Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Instrument (STEBI-B) developed by Enochs and Riggs (1990) both at the beginning and end of the study. The treatment group planned and taught mini-lessons. The lessons were videotaped and evaluated in detail by watching the videotapes. The microteachers replanned and retaught the mini-lessons based on the feedback. The microteaching practices were conducted to support efficacy sources. The control group only planned and taught mini-lessons and received brief and undetailed feedback. Results showed significant differences in participants' personal science teaching efficacy beliefs and student outcome expectancy beliefs in terms of the treatment group. The STEB scores of the control group also decreased at the end of the study. It is suggested that pre-service teachers should have the opportunity to reflect on their performances, artifacts, or lesson plans and to design them several times.

A Cultural and Artistic Approach to Early Childhood Science Education: Shadow Play

Attitudes towards science and scientific perspectives in the future depend on early childhood science experiences. Preservice teachers who are provided with the opportunity to develop positive attitudes and self-efficacy towards science teaching before they enter professional life are more likely to help preschoolers develop positive attitudes towards science in their professional life. The aim of this 12-week study was, therefore, to determine the effect of a shadow play workshop on early childhood preservice teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs and attitudes towards science teaching and to investigate their workshop experiences and application processes. This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. The sample consisted of 24 first-year early childhood preservice teachers. Quantitative data were collected using the Early Childhood Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Science Teaching (TSAS) and the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI) and were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test and the dependent sample t-test. Qualitative data were collected through focus group interviews and observations and were analyzed using content analysis. Results showed that shadow play had a positive effect on participants’ self-efficacy beliefs and attitudes towards science teaching, indicating that shadow play is an interesting, fun, and effective material that can be used in early childhood science education to turn abstract concepts into concrete forms. Results were discussed with reference to literature, and recommendations were made for future studies.