VALUE SYSTEMS: A BETTER WAY TO UNDERSTAND SCIENCE TEACHERSʹ BELIEFS AND PRACTICES?

Since science teachers are an important factor in implementing educational reforms in science education, there are many studies in the literature about their beliefs and practices. Most of these studies investigate science teachersʹ certain beliefs about science and education in isolation. This study suggests that it is more useful to investigate science teachersʹ beliefs and practices from a perspective of values and value systems. An interpretive-qualitative study that investigated four science teachersʹ values in relation to their beliefs and teaching practices is reported here. In the discussion, it is suggested that determining science teacherʹs value priorities provide a better understanding of their beliefs and practices which may offer more informed ways of working with teachers to enhance their development.