Elementary Teachers' Perceptions of Engineering Education: A Survey Study in Taiwan

This study investigated elementary teachers' perceptions of engineering education using a self-developed assessment tool (Science Teachers' Views on Engineering in Elementary School Questionnaire). Prior to the study, exploratory factor analysis and reliability testing involving 117 elementary teachers were performed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Through snowball sampling, 202 certified elementary science teachers completed the survey. The results indicated a medium level of overall understanding among elementary science teachers regarding engineering education. Teachers perceived a lack of engineering expertise and had little experience in teaching engineering. Although schools did not actively support teachers' engineering teaching or STEM education activities, teachers had high expectations of higher education institutions to provide engineering education training and of education authorities to offer a specific framework for engineering teaching in the science curriculum. Moreover, teachers' college majors influenced their perspectives on engineering expertise and engineering teaching as well as their overall understanding of engineering education.