TEACHER SELF-EFFICACY, ATTITUDES TOWARD CHANGE AND NEUROEDUCATION PERCEPTION: TOOL PACKAGE DEVELOPMENT

Neuroeducation is an emerging research field that bridges neuroscience and education in an interdisciplinary manner, aiming to increase the efficiency and efficacy of the educational process. This research is a part of a larger doctoral study, which focuses on the questions of whether and how Israeli teacher training students from the special education course of study implement motifs from the neuroeducation field in their lesson planning. Specifically, this pilot study attempted to compose a validated and reliable package of questionnaires related to the effects of implementing neuroscience motifs in education of teacher self-efficacy and attitudes toward change in teaching methods. The questionnaires were to be presented in Hebrew as a preparation for the quantitative section of a broader research with Israeli participants (Israeli teacher training students in special education studies). Since no specific instruments were found in the literature regarding the inclusion of neuroeducation in the teaching practices, several items were added to previous existing questionnaires after consultation with an expert panel. A number of 19 students participated in the pilot study by filling in online questionnaires. The internal consistency of all the questionnaires (Cronbach's alpha) was acceptable to excellent. The results present a valid assessment package for the Israeli pre-service teacher population including items specifically related to neuroeducation. Further recommendations and implications for educational use of neuroscience motifs in teaching methods are addressed. (c) 2019 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy.org.UK