AUTHOR=Stepanović Ilić Ivana , Peixoto Francisco , Dabić Boričić Milana , Videnović Marina , Castro Silva Jose , Ferreira Nadia , Monteiro Vera 

TITLE=Construction of a scale measuring primary teachers’ self-efficacy to teach STEAM: the STEAM-TSES

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Education

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2024

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1519327

DOI=10.3389/feduc.2024.1519327

ISSN=2504-284X

ABSTRACT=The STEAM-TSES was developed to measure teachers’ self-efficacy (TSE) in teaching STEAM disciplines due to the lack of instruments measuring specific TSE dimensions, especially in STEAM education. This paper presents the validation results based on a sample of 805 Portuguese and Serbian primary school teachers. The scale comprises 36 items measuring TSE related to mathematics, biology, chemistry, science, and arts, the ability to motivate students, and confidence in integrating STEAM disciplines. The measurement model tested through Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling and Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed an acceptable fit to the data, supporting the existence of nine factors: five related to TSE in teaching specific subjects, three focused on motivating students in mathematics, science, and arts, and one related to integrated teaching. The analyses show good psychometric characteristics of the STEAM-TSES, and the correlations with the TSE scale indicate the validity of distinguishing constructs associated with STEAM education.