ERIC Number: EJ1426586
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2474-297X
Teacher Perceptions of Elasticity in Student Questioning
Brian Stone; Rachael Pearson
International Journal of the Whole Child, v9 n1 p9-19 2024
Elasticity, the capacity for students to explore or investigate their own questions of interest during or after teacher-directed events in the classroom, is highly beneficial for students in terms of their retention and deeper understanding of the content. An elastic environment is child-centered and inquiry-based. An inelastic environment (teacher-directed) results in students refraining from asking, investigating, or exploring their interests/curiosities. Teachers' perceptions of their classroom environments become an important consideration when evaluating their ability to enact elastic explorations. In this pilot study, teachers (two separate public-school districts) completed surveys describing perceptions of elasticity in their classrooms. Results indicate teachers' high value for elasticity in learning, inquiry-based investigating, and authentic student questioning. However, most teachers describe their environments as highly inelastic due to multiple barriers including time, standards, testing, stress, and a lack of training. The authors discuss potential pathways for increasing elastic environments including teacher training, professional development, and administrative support. The authors also discuss the relationship between teachers' beliefs and developing an elastic classroom environment.
Descriptors: Teacher Attitudes, Student Interests, Classroom Environment, Barriers, Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Inquiry, Personal Autonomy, Teaching Methods
Tennessee Association for Childhood Education International. Web site: https://libjournals.mtsu.edu/index.php/ijwc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Kindergarten; Primary Education; Grade 1; Grade 2; Grade 3; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades; Grade 5; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A