Effects of an Inclusive Childcare Capacity Building Program on In-service Teachers’ Teaching Efficacy and Attitudes towards Inclusion

Abstract

An inclusive childcare capacity building program was designed to enhance teacher efficacy and attitudes toward the inclusion of childcare teachers. A total of 36 teachers working in childcare facilities in Gyeonggi-do participated in this study. Nineteen teachers were assigned to the treatment condition and 17 teachers were assigned to the control condition. The program explicitly addressed 15 topics, including screening and diagnosis, early development, characteristics of disability, family support and related services, IEP, and online site observation. The program was primarily delivered by field professionals using adult learning techniques such as small group activities, reflective journal writings, and online consultation. Teachers in the treatment group outperformed teachers in the control group on three measures of teacher efficacy, teacher play efficacy, and attitudes toward inclusion. The results were statistically significant. The increase in teacher efficacy, play efficacy, and attitudes toward inclusion of teachers was attributed to the well-designed program, encompassing early development, disability characteristics, small group discussions, and online support. The results highlight the importance of providing and disseminating a capacity building program for in-service teachers.