Factors Influencing Preschool Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices of Outdoor Play in Kombolcha City Administration

Solomon, Yimer

dc.contributor.author	Solomon, Yimer
dc.date.accessioned	2021-07-07T12:36:54Z
dc.date.available	2021-07-07T12:36:54Z
dc.date.issued	2021-07-07
dc.identifier.uri	http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/12181
dc.description.abstract	Outdoor play is a required pedagogy in early years’ curricula. However, there is lack of a clear picture on current beliefs and practices of outdoor play in children's learning. The purpose of this paper is to examine beliefs and practice of preschool teachers towards outdoor play in Kombolcha city administration. Explanatory sequential design was employed and the study sample comprised 70 preschool teachers drawn from 167 target population via comprehensive sampling technique and 13 principals from 37 target population. Preschool teachers’ beliefs and practice of outdoor play were measured through a teacher-self reported questionnaire. Frequency, percentage, one sample t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression, one way ANOVA and independent t-test were used to analyze the data and to find out statistical results. Results show that majority of preschool teachers had high beliefs on outdoor play, minority of them had low level of practice on outdoor. The finding from Pearson correlation coefficient showed that beliefs of outdoor play had not relationship with practice of outdoor play. Finding from regression analysis indicated that teachers' training and experience were found to statistically significant predictors of practice of outdoor play whereas preschool management & physical environment and playing equipment did not statistically predict practice of outdoor play. Low practice of outdoor play is linked to lack of out-door playing materials, inadequate playing ground and age inappropriate material. Preschool teachers training and experience are also cited as a major factor in the low practice of outdoor play by teachers.To conclude when teachers are motivated and provided with a wide range of play materials they were more likely to use play as a teaching strategy, a practice which would result in making learning enjoyable and effective. To improve the use of outdoor play as a teaching strategy in pre-primary schools, capacity building for preschool managers,teachers and other stakeholders will necessary. And it is better to adjust or fulfill physical environment of preschools and playing equipment. Keywords: beliefs, practice, teachers, outdoor play materials and preschool	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.subject	Educational Psychology	en_US
dc.title	Factors Influencing Preschool Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices of Outdoor Play in Kombolcha City Administration	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US