Changing teachers’ self-efficacy, beliefs and practicesthrough STEAM teacher professional development

Abstract

This article presents a STEAM education model based on the use ofmeaningful contexts for the integrated acquisition of key learningoutcomes related to different subjects. The model combines inquiryand the use of socio-scientific issues to promote mathematics andscience learning along with the development of critical thinking andthe integration of cultural and fundamental values. The evaluation ofan international teacher professional development programme usinga pre/post-test research design shows the programme’s impact onsecondary school teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs, and teaching prac-tices related to the implemented pedagogical model. The qualitativeanalysis of the teachers’ reflections shows that the most appreciatedaspects of the programme are transferability to practice, the peda-gogical resources offered, the benefits of the model on students’learning, the methodological transformation involved, as well as theopportunity to exchange ideas and practices with colleagues ina professional learning community. These results are of great interestsince they reveal a powerful way to promote transformational tea-cher professional development in the STEAM environment.