The Effect of Social Studies Courses on Digital Self Formation in Turkey

Abstract

The world, which includes all living things from the first human to the present, is based on the process of change and transformation with all its dimensions. It can be stated that this process of change and transformation affects the lives of many living things on earth, as well as remarkable effects on human life. In particular, the digital world, which is one of the important results of technology-based development, can be said to be effective in shaping human life cognitively, psychomotorically and emotionally. This shaping process takes place in educational institutions with the achievements transferred through various fields of study and disciplines. This study, in which the effect of social studies courses on the formation and development process of the digital self-concept, which is based on the cognitive effects of digitalization, was evaluated in line with the perceptions of teachers in Turkey, was designed according to the phenomenological approach, one of the qualitative research methods. The research data were analyzed with the descriptive analysis technique and thematic codes were created based on the findings. A semi-structured interview form prepared by the researchers was used to collect data. The research data, the answers to the questions in the interview form, were collected through online interviews with social studies teachers due to the Covid-19 epidemic in the world and in Turkey. In the study supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of İnönü University with the Normal Research Project coded SBA-2019-1755, the data obtained were analyzed and the findings were presented in tables and figures. Considering the findings of the study, it can be said that the social studies teachers who make up the study group have different and remarkable perceptions about the effects of social studies lessons on digital self-creation.