Investigation of Science Teachers’ Level of Anxiety about Out-of-School Learning

Abstract

The purpose of the current study is to determine science teachers’ level of anxiety about out-of-school learning environments and to investigate whether this level of anxiety varies significantly depending on different variables. The study employed the survey model, one of the quantitative research methods. The study was conducted in the spring term of the 2021-2022 school year. A total of 153 (110 female and 43 male) science teachers participated in the study. The participation was on a volunteer basis and the data were collected via Google Form. As the data collection tool, the “Science Teachers’ Level of Anxiety about Out-of-School Environments Evaluation Scale” was used. In the analysis of the collected data, a statistical program was used and the data were interpreted by looking at the results of independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). In this way, the participating teachers’ level of anxiety about out-of-school learning environments and the correlations between this level of anxiety and different variables were revealed. The mean score for the science teachers’ general level of anxiety about out-of-school learning environments was found to be 77.22. The participants stated that out-of-school learning environments make them partially concerned. No significant correlation was found between the science teachers’ level of anxiety about out-of-school learning environments and the gender variable. On the other hand, significant correlations were found between the science teachers’ level of anxiety about out-of-school learning environment and the variables of having received training on out-of-school learning environments, administrative attitude, frequency of visiting out-of-school environments, using out-of-school environments in science education and being able to prepare a plan for out-of-school teaching.