Attitude and Approaches of Faculty Members Regarding Formal Education and Distance Learning Programs

Abstract

Distance learning, which is a formal or institutional education activity that brings together students, instructors and education materials in different locations via communication technologies, is an education method that becomes commonplace in the whole world and whose components start to be used more day by day in formal education. In distance learning, knowledge and communication technologies as well as the ability of faculty members to use these have importance. However, because of distance learning applications not being able to be widespread enough and the prejudgments to this area; it is being observed that the adaptation of faculty members teaching in formal education to distance learning methods take time.In this study, attitudes of faculty members, who are teaching the same courses both in formal education and distance learning in Turkey Akdeniz University, towards distance learning, their observations regarding the similarities and differences in the behaviors of students being educated in formal education and distance learning, and the attitudes of students towards education and their active participation to class will be identified via survey method. As a result, recommendations regarding distance learning programs will be developed based on faculty members’ attitudes and approaches towards formal education and distance learning.