Effects of Creative Self-Efficacy and Work Value on Creative Teaching: A Cross-Level Analysis of Professional Learning Communities and Teachers’ Trust

Author: Chia-Chun Hsiao (Department of Education, National University of Tainan)

Vol.&No.：Vol. 67, No. 1
Date：March 2022
Pages：255-289
DOI：https://doi.org/10.6209/JORIES.202203_67(1).0009

Abstract：
Main Purpose and Motivation
Numerous developed countries have demonstrated that professional learning communities can improve teaching quality for young generations through dialogue, support, class observation, sharing, and cooperation. Professional learning communities have received increasing research attention, but few studies have investigated creative teaching or performed cross-level analyses of factors that affect it. Thus, this study investigated the effects of creative self-efficacy, work values, and professional learning communities on creative teaching. Key variables were identified through a literature review. The objectives were to determine whether (1) professional learning communities directly affect creative teaching, (2) teacher trust indirectly affects creative teaching through professional learning communities as a mediating variable, (3) work values directly affect creative teaching, (4) teachers’ creative self-efficacy directly affects creative teaching, (5) teacher trust indirectly affects the relationship between their work values and creative teaching, and (6) teacher trust indirectly affects the relationship between their creative self-efficacy and creative teaching.
Research Method
This study performed a multilevel analysis of professional learning communities. Community leaders and directors were asked to obtain informed consent from the community members and to distribute questionnaires to teachers in public and private schools. A total of 30 communities and 214 elementary school teachers were sampled; 57 of the teachers were men, and 152 were women. Hierarchical linear modeling was performed to test six hypotheses and determine the effects and relationships among the variables.
Research Results
The leaders encouraged cooperation and exchange among the professional learning communities, which increased creative intention and improved performance. Visionary leadership, sharing-based teaching, positive affirmations, and the achievement of goals positively affected creative skills. In addition, trust among supervisors and colleagues positively affected innovation, interpersonal relationships, and creativity. Thus, innovation develops from a sense of security and trust. Trust in supervisors and the organization affected organizational security and innovation, respectively, and strengthened creative skills, thereby increasing the teachers’ willingness to share experiences with each other and devote their creativity to their organization.
Suggestions
Visionary leadership is essential in professional learning communities because it not only directly affects creative intention and skills but also indirectly affects trust in supervisors through creative teaching as a mediating variable. Creative intention develops when subordinates feel trust and the security to experiment. Thus, the visions and goals of professional learning communities must be closely related to teachers’ learning needs and provide a foundation for administrators, highlighting the practical value of visionary leadership.
Research Discussion and Suggestion
Most studies on creative teaching have performed teacher-level analyses and neglected factors related to schools. This study examined teachers’ personal factors (creative self-efficacy and work values) and investigated creative teaching. The teachers’ work environments (professional learning communities and teacher trust) were also considered. In addition, this study explored several related variables to fill gaps in the literature. This study also offered several specific and practical suggestions to improve professional learning communities, teacher trust, creative self-efficacy, and work values. First, professional learning community leaders can improve creative teaching through visionary leadership and by considering teachers’ opinions and addressing their needs, thereby gaining support from the community. Second, principals and supervisors should analyze teachers’ professional learning communities, provide communication channels, fulfil hardware and software requirements, and address teachers’ needs to build trust. Third, teachers must gain the trust of their colleagues to establish healthy interpersonal professional relationships. Mutual trust and support can also lead to creative teaching. Subsequent studies should investigate these topics in other contexts, such as middle schools, high schools, and colleges, to identity differences among educational levels and background variables.

Keywords：work value, teacher trust, professional learning community, creative teaching, creative self-efficacy

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