School Projects from the Perspectives of the Project School Teachers

Abstract

This research aims to identify the views and reflections of teachers working in project schools on the meaning and impact of the projects carried out in Turkish schools. The research was designed in the case study model. The data of the research were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 teachers working in project schools in Muğla. The interviews were evaluated under the themes of "the underlying meanings of projects", "the reasons for teachers to involve in projects", "the effects of projects on teachers" and "the effects of projects on students". According to the research results, the participants defined projects as works that focus on quantity rather than quality, as works only for display, as incompatible with the education system, as a discredited concept, and as drudgery. The participants stated that the teachers participated in the projects due to the pressure from the school principals and central education system as well as aiming to put forth useful work, execute the task perfunctorily, and gain an advantage. In addition, the participants expressed that the projects carried out in schools have positive effects for teachers such as increasing job satisfaction, providing personal development opportunities and enabling collaboration with colleagues, as well as negative effects such as burnout, waste of time, inefficiency and not contributing to professional development. Finally, the participants asserted that while the projects provided positive effects for students such as socialization, motivation, self-confidence, and teamwork, they had negative effects such as not supporting academic success, disruption of lessons, boredom, and incorrect learning of science.