Development of Mathematics and Science Teacher Competencies through Coaching

Abstract

Faced with impacts from globalization, rapid technological advancement and increasing competition, educational systems worldwide are racing to find sustainable ways to improve student achievement. As teachers are a direct conduit to students and their performance, targeting the development of teacher competency is an avenue worth exploring. An attractive option toward improving educational standards and achievement is coaching, as it is ongoing support for teachers. The objective of this study was to analyze existing literature on coaching in order to develop and implement a coaching system to facilitate professional development and increase instructional competencies of primary school math and science teachers at a private primary school in Samutprakan, Thailand. Data was gathered through interviews and questionnaires conducted with coaches, teachers and students, with results indicating a high degree of satisfaction, most notably in teachers, with coaching allowing them to discover alternate possibilities and bolstering their skills and efficacy.