Subject Selection Questionnaire

Subject Selection Questionnaire

I am an early-years’ teacher and I am now doing my PhD in Education in WarwickUniversity. My interest focuses on natural sciences and children’s misconceptions. Thus, I decided to conduct a research in regard to teachers’ views on children’s misconceptions and their response.Thisquestionnaire was designed to discover teachers’ perception of teaching specific natural sciences’ subjects (early years and primary teachers). Teachers will also be asked to give some personalinformation (eg years of experience).

All questionnaires will be anonymous and all information given by participants will be kept confidential. Participants are also informed of their right to withdraw at any moment. The whole questionnaire will take no longer than fifteen minutes to be completed. Please be us honest as you can because it is important to get a true picture of your perceptions.

Your co-operation is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Teacher’s information:

In the items 1-6 put a √ in the appropriate box:

Sex: Male (1)  Female (2) 
Length of teaching experience (including this year as one full year): 1 year2-5 years6-10 years 11-20 years 21 years or more
Approximately how many children are in your class this year?

Under 20 children 21-26 children 27 children and more

Combination (or lessons) that you followed at secondary school:

C.I: Classico C.II: Practico  CIII: Economico  C.IV: Emporico  C.V: Foreign Languages 

If you went to EnieoSecondary School please specify the 4 main lessons that you had: ………………………………………………………………………………….

Type of school:

1 teacher2teachers 3 teachers 4-5 teachers6 teachers or more Other characteristics of the school:

Provinces / Nicosia / Limassol / Larnaca / Paphos / Kyrenia / Famagusta
Town
Village

Country-place of graduation:

University of CyprusPedagogical Academy of CyprusCollege University in GreeceOther: Please Specify ……………………………….

Please indicate how you feel about the next statements. Circle one answer for each line:

Statements / Very much
(4) / Much
(3) / Neutral
(2) / A little
(1) / Not at All
(0)
I am confident about teaching natural sciences / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
I like teaching natural science / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
I feel satisfied with the training I had within my studies / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
I feel satisfied with the knowledge obtained during my studies in regard to natural sciences / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
I feel that I was well prepared to teach natural sciences when I finished my studies / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
I feel confident about answering children’s questions during a natural sciences lesson / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
I feel satisfied with the equipment provided to me from the school / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
I believe that the lessons I had in secondary school affect my ability to teach natural sciences today / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0

Please circle the answer that mostly expresses your opinion:

Very much
(4) / Much
(3) / Neutral
(2) / A little
(1) / Not at All
(0)

1)How confident do you feel about teaching:

Plants and Animals / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
The human body / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Weather- Earth- Space / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Ecology / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Matter / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Magnets / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Light / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Sound / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Heat- Energy / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Electricity / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0

2)How satisfied do you feel with your knowledge on:

Please indicate how often you choose to teach the following subjects:

Statement / Very often / Sometime / Rare / Not sure/ neutral
Plants and Animals / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
The human body / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Weather- Earth- Space / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Ecology / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Matter / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Magnets / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Light / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Sound / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Heat- Energy / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Electricity / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1

Please indicate the amount of misconceptions that children have in regard to the following subjects:

Statement / A lot of misconceptions / Some misconceptions / No misconceptions / I can’t say
Plants and Animals / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
The human body / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Weather- Earth- Space / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Ecology / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Matter / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Magnets / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Light / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Sound / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Heat- Energy / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Electricity / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1

Please rank the following according to how much they affect your teaching beginning with 1as the factor that affects it more and 5 the one that affects it less:

Subject knowledge

Resources available

Time available

Children’s misconceptions

Other: Please indicate: ……………………………

In there is anything else that you would like to add or say please do so in the space provided bellow…………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………