A Survey of Science Teachers’ Perception and Practices in Inclusive Science Classrooms

Abstract

This paper reports on a first study about Singapore primary science teachers’ views and practices in inclusive science classrooms. Rasch analysis was performed on an online teacher survey administered to 108 teachers, which was conducted to investigate teachers’ views about students with special education needs (SEN; Construct A), self-efficacy views in teaching students with SEN (Construct B), and their science teaching practices in inclusive classrooms (Construct C). The findings show that it was generally easy for the science teachers to agree with items in Constructs B and C, but not in Construct A. A closer examination of the individual constructs revealed positive teachers’ views, their feelings of inadequacy and wish for greater school support, and selected types of accommodations and modifications practiced in their classrooms. This study contributes new insights drawn from an Asian study, offers a validated instrument, and provides science teacher educators ideas for supporting science teachers in inclusive science teaching.