research-article

Teacher Attitudes & Beliefs in Computer Science (T-ABC): Development & Validation of a Teacher Survey Instrument

Authors:

Dennis BrylowAuthors Info & Claims

ACM Transactions on Computing Education, Volume 23, Issue 2

Article No.: 18, Pages 1 - 23

https://doi.org/10.1145/3569945

Published: 14 March 2023 Publication History

Abstract

Instrument development is an important step towards unlocking the analytical power of teacher attitudes and beliefs towards Computer Science (CS). Teacher dispositions have strong empirical and theoretical ties to teacher motivation, professional choices, and classroom practices. To determine consensus desirable attitudes and beliefs, we analyzed 17 key documents produced by 12 national and international organizations associated with CS and the CS education reform movement. An analysis of 98 relevant coded segments yielded four dispositional targets: an equity orientation, a teacher growth mindset, and key beliefs regarding (career) outcomes and epistemology of CS. Statements crafted for these targets as well as self-efficacy were reviewed through an expert panel (N = 5) and a pilot study (N = 22) before the T-ABC was administered to elementary teachers in a large grant-funded outreach project (N = 772). Psychometric analysis demonstrates high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89) and satisfactory extraction and loading onto a three factor model, with CS beliefs, growth mindset, and self-efficacy as major factors. Identification and measurements of teacher dispositions enables further analysis of how teacher beliefs may support or hinder effective practice in CS instruction, how teacher populations may differ, and how identified dispositions may change with exposure to various CS learning experiences.

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Cited By

Liu ZZhang SIsrael MSmith RXing WMinces VStone JYuen TShoop LRebelsky SPrather J(2025)Engaging K-12 Students with Flow-Based Music Programming: An Experience Report on Its Impact on Teaching and LearningProceedings of the 56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3641554.3701902(708-714)Online publication date: 12-Feb-2025
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3641554.3701902

Index Terms

Teacher Attitudes & Beliefs in Computer Science (T-ABC): Development & Validation of a Teacher Survey Instrument
1. Applied computing
  1. Education
2. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education
      1. K-12 education

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cover image ACM Transactions on Computing Education

ACM Transactions on Computing Education Volume 23, Issue 2

June 2023

364 pages

EISSN:1946-6226

DOI:10.1145/3587033

Editor:
Amy J. Ko
University of Washington, USA

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Publication History

Published: 14 March 2023

Online AM: 27 October 2022

Accepted: 07 October 2022

Revised: 19 August 2022

Received: 02 February 2022

Published in TOCE Volume 23, Issue 2

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Cited By

Liu ZZhang SIsrael MSmith RXing WMinces VStone JYuen TShoop LRebelsky SPrather J(2025)Engaging K-12 Students with Flow-Based Music Programming: An Experience Report on Its Impact on Teaching and LearningProceedings of the 56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3641554.3701902(708-714)Online publication date: 12-Feb-2025
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3641554.3701902

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