Pre-service Teachers In Turkey Research Articles

Being A Distance Student: View Of Preservice Teachers In Turkey

A hybrid model, supported by technology, is used for teacher training in many countries. Sometimes, this is mandatory, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic or an earthquake and other times it is a conscious choice. This study examines the opinions of preservice teachers on their experiences with distance education. The research is a qualitative case study, and the data collection is through a focus group interview, which was evaluated using content analysis. The findings reveal that the experiences during the courses and the attitude of the instructors affect the perception and satisfaction of the participants. The participants evaluated the opportunities offered by their universities as positive efforts but emphasized that being able to benefit from such opportunities is a personal situation. The participants’ study skills, self-discipline, technological equipment, internet access, and environment to study made them either advantageous or disadvantageous in distance education.

Multi-grade teaching: Experiences of teachers and preservice teachers in Turkey

AbstractThis case study compared preservice primary school teachers' and primary school teachers' experiences with multi-grade teaching in the 2018–2019 academic year. The sample consisted of 17 fourth-year students in the department of primary school teaching education of a public university and 14 multi-grade teachers from 12 schools in Turkey. The preservice teachers and multi-grade primary school teachers developed similar lesson plans and executed similar learning processes. Although the multi-grade teachers claimed that they used different methods (brainstorming, drama, observation, etc.), the preservice teachers observed them mostly use Q&A and direct instruction techniques. The preservice teachers did not use multidisciplinary teaching activities but instead showed students videos and slides and designed textbook-based activities. They did not use different methods to plan a multi-grade lecture. Multi-grade teaching training offered by the faculties of education should be interdisciplinary and encourage collaboration among teachers from other branches (e.g., teacher agency).

An investigation of studies on professional ethics conducted with the participation of pre-service teachers in Turkey

The purpose of this study is to identify and analyse the studies on the professional ethics of pre-service teachers in Turkey and to present the data on pre-service teachers and their professional ethics. Accordingly, the systematic review method was used. The keyword combinations as ‘pre-service teacher and ethic’ and ‘pre-service teacher and professional ethics’ were used in both Turkish and English to conduct the literature review in the databases as Google Scholar, ERIC, PsycINFO, Web of Science and EBSCO. As a result, 18 studies from 17 scholarly journals were found using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies were analysed based on the year; participants’ grades in the university, number, departments, the curricula of the departments and the contexts of the studies. It is believed that future studies should be done with the participation of pre-service teachers from the 2nd and 3rd grades. Training programmes for pre-service teachers should be organised and the effectiveness of these programmes on professional ethics can be determined. Keywords: Ethics, pre-service teachers, professional ethics, systematic review, teachers

Examination of the Pre-service Teachers’ Experiences and Perceptions on Teaching Practices: English Language Teaching Case

This study aims to evaluate the pre-service teachers’ experiences and perceptions on teaching practices provided within an internship program carried out at a major state university in Turkey in a holistic way from various aspects. The participants of the study were 65 pre-service teachers studying in the English Language Teaching department at a state university in Turkey. For this purpose, in the study, an explanatory mixed-methods research design was used. A Likert scale questionnaire was conducted with the pre-service teachers to collect quantitative data. Then a semi-structured interview was conducted with eight pre-service teachers to support the quantitative data with qualitative data. The results show that the teaching practice offered within the scope of the internship program is effective as it responds to the needs of pre-service teachers in terms of professional development and mentoring support regarding their teaching professional skills. However, the findings also show that according to the pre-service teachers, there are some issues such as the length of the teaching practice, the inadequacy of mentorship support, organizational problems, and the limited freedom given during teaching practice need to be considered. Finally, the study concludes by presenting some recommendations in line with the results to improve the quality of the teaching practice provided to pre-service teachers in Turkey.

Investigation of Lifelong Learning Competencies of Physical Education and Sports Teachers and Preservice Teachers in Turkey in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 76 physical education and sports teachers and 74 preservice teachers voluntarily participated in this study, which investigated the Lifelong Learning competencies of Physical Education and Sports Teachers and Physical Education and Sports Teaching Students. Data were collected with the Lifelong Learning Competence (LLC) scale. According to the results of the research, it was determined that the average scores of the participants from the LLC scale were high. There is a statistically significant difference in favor of physical education teachers between the LLC total score of teachers and students and the sub-dimensions of the scale. In terms of the age variable, a statistically significant difference was found between the LLC total score and the sub-dimensions of the scale in favor of the age of 34 and above. According to the results of the correlation analysis between age and LLC sub-dimensions, a positive relationship was found between age and total score, self-management, learning to learn, initiative and entrepreneurship, and a positive relationship between acquiring information and decision-making. Although it is difficult to make a causal inference because the current research was designed in a cross-sectional pattern, lifelong learning competence in the current research group increases with age in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Role of Social Support and Lifestyle in Pre-Service Teachers' Psychological Well-Being

The main purpose of this study was to explore the predictive utility of demographic, social and lifestyle variables in psychological well-being. The participants were 410 pre-service teachers in Turkey. Three research instruments were utilized in the current study: Psychological Well-Being Scale, Lifestyle Inventory and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Both social support and lifestyle variables accounted for the additional variance in psychological well-being above and beyond the effects of demographic variables. Purpose in life was best predicted by being-married; lifestyle variables made the most contribution to autonomy; and social support-friend were found to be the best predictor of positive relations with others. It seems that demographic, social support and lifestyle variables play a differential role in psychological well-being.

Self-Esteem Levels of Physical Education Teacher Candidates in Turkey and Iran: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

The aim of this study was to compare the levels of self-esteem of pre-service teachers studying in the physical education and sports teaching department in Turkey and Iran. 80 Turkish and 111 Iranian students constituted the participant group of the study designed using the cross-cultural comparative research method. The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, the validity and reliability studies of which were conducted in both countries, was used as a data collection tool in the study. Two-way analysis of variance (was used to analyze the data. When pre-service teachers' self-esteem scores were analyzed, it was observed that pre-service teachers both in Turkey and in Iran were above the moderate level. However, in terms of mean self-esteem scores, although it appeared that the mean scores of preservice teachers in Turkey were higher than the mean scores of pre-service teachers in Iran, it can be said that pre-service teachers' levels of self-esteem did not differ according to the culture they live in, in other words, they were at similar levels. According to the results of the study, it was determined that self-esteem scores were not significantly different according to both gender, grade level, perceived level of academic achievement and culture variables.

Development of the STEM-Pedagogical Content Knowledge Scale for Pre-service Teachers: Validity and Reliability Study

This study aims to develop a valid and reliable scale to determine the STEM-Pedagogical Content Knowledge (STEM-PCK) levels of pre-service teachers. This study was conducted in the 2018-2019 academic year with 322 pre-service teachers in Turkey. In the study, one of the mixed method typologies, Exploratory Sequential Design was applied. The scale was submitted for evaluation by four experts to determine the content and face validity. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed to determine the construct validity of the scale. As a result of EFA, the scale had five factors including STEM Pedagogical Knowledge, Pedagogical Knowledge, Engineering Pedagogical Knowledge, Mathematics Pedagogical Knowledge and Science Pedagogical Knowledge.As a result of CFAχ ² / df = 2.7085, RMSEA = .073, RMR = 0.0420, SRMR = .0667, NFI = .940, NNFI = .960, CFI = .961, IFI = .962, RFI = .938 values were reached and the factor structure determined to be suitable.To determine the reliability of the scale, internal consistency and test-retest reliability analyzes were made. Internal consistency reliability value of the scale was found as .977. The final form of the STEM-PCK scale is a 5-point Likert type that includes 57 items and 5 factors.

The effects of STEM activities applied in mathematics courses for elementary pre-service teachers in Turkey

This research presents the outputs of problem-solving based STEM education activities applied in an undergraduate mathematics course. An experimental study using a randomized pretest-posttest control group design was carried out to examine the development of elementary pre-service teachers in the fields of mathematics achievement, belief about mathematical problem solving, STEM awareness, and problem-solving skills. Outcomes revealed that pre-service teachers in the experimental group (i.e. those taking the STEM course) showed a greater improvement in mathematics achievement in the areas of volume and surface area of solids, trigonometry, coordinate system, and STEM awareness than those in the control group after taking the course. Also, an increase in the problem-solving skills of pre-service teachers was found. The implications of the findings and the development of elementary pre-service teachers were discussed.

Predictors of online learning satisfaction of pre-service teachers in Turkey

This research was conducted in an attempt to examine online learning satisfaction (OLS) level of the pre-service teachers and the influence of antecedents including computer anxiety (CA), internet anxiety (IA), online course anxiety (OCA), internet self-efficacy (ISE) and transactions including learner-instructor interaction (LII), learner-content interaction (LCI) and learner-learner interaction (LLI) on one outcome of online learning process, OLS. We employed an exploratory survey, which can be used to investigate the relationship between certain variables. The sample included 710 pre-service teachers from different departments studying at two public universities located in the eastern part of Turkey. Data were collected through "Technological Anxiety and Satisfaction Scale", "Internet Self-efficacy Sub-scale" and "The Online Self-regulation Questionnaire (OSRQ) in Three Types of Interaction". Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis (MLR) were used to analyze the data. The findings indicated low OLS based on the perceptions of this sample of pre-service teachers. Further analysis through MLR revealed a significant negative relationship between OCA and OLS, while the other predictors were insignificant. As the significant predictor explained 14% of the variance in the outcome variable, more comprehensive research was suggested to find out the unexplained predictors of the outcome. The administrators are suggested to provide the instructors with professional guidance with the help of the experts who can provide successful online course implementations.

Öğretmen Adaylarının Matematik Kimlikleri, Meslek Öncesi Öğretmen Kimlikleri ve FeTeMM Öğretim Yönelimlerinin İncelenmesi

The aim of this study was two-fold: establish cross-cultural reliability and validity of the self-efficacy and concerns about STEM education instrument for elementary pre-service teachers in Turkey and to examine elementary and mathematics pre-service teachers’ mathematics identity, early teacher identity and STEM teaching intentions. Results of the study revealed that adapted Mathematics Identity Instrument is valid and reliable to use in Turkish culture. Adapted instrument has one sub-scale. It includes 9-items on a 5-point Likert type. The original and adapted instrument were not equivalent. Cronbach’s alpha for the instrument was calculated as .86 respectively. The findings of this study revealed elementary pre-service teachers had moderate and mathematics pre-service teachers had high level of mathematics identity. Both elementary and mathematics pre-service teachers hold a high level of early teacher identity. A significant difference was found between elementary and mathematics pre-service teachers’ mathematics and early teacher identity regarding their majors. The difference was in the favor of mathematics teachers. There was no significant difference between pre-service teachers’ early teacher identity regarding math identity variable. This research study revealed that both elementary and mathematics pre-service teachers had high level of STEM teaching intentions. A significant difference was found between elementary and mathematics pre-service teachers’ subjective norms in relation to STEM teaching intentions regarding their majors. The difference was in the favor of mathematics teachers.

Action learning in teacher education for teaching twenty-first-century thinking skills

ABSTRACT This account of practice follows an action learning project that considered the contribution of the ‘L = P + Q + R’ formula to the teaching of thinking skills to 31 pre-service teachers in Turkey, including the risks in the process of AL. The participants were observed as exhibiting developments in learning (L) thinking skills through questioning (Q) and reflection (R). This study led me to an understanding of the potential risks related to the time allocated by the Action Learning Facilitator to the participants as well as to the small number of groups.

Multiple Intelligences Profiles in Prospective Teachers

The teaching profession in the 21 Century not only requires a rich variety of competences but also necessitates a remarkable capacity for adaptability to changes. Training programs for teachers have increasingly incorporated a focus on the personal growth and improvements of teachers. This growth involves acquiring considerable insight into a range of their physical, cognitive and affective characteristics. In an attempt to contribute to the literature on teachers’ characteristics, the current work intended to examine multiple intelligence profiles of a sample of pre-service teachers and compare their scores with respect to their gender, field of study and year of college. The participants of the current correlational study were 346 pre-service teachers in Turkey. Findings showed pre-service teachers’ weakest areas were in the musical-rhythmic and verbal/linguistic domains. Significant differences were revealed in several domains of MI according to gender, departments and year of college.

Preservice teachers perceptions about the use of blended learning in a science education methods course

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the effectiveness of blended learning within the context of a science education methods course for early childhood elementary preservice teachers in Turkey. Elementary teachers historically fear science and avoid using it in their classes. This course was blended to allow the students to experience active science learning during face to face sessions. Student perceptions about their experiences in a blended methods course were collected using a previously validated survey. The data analysis of the post-test only survey research design demonstrated that students’ perceptions were positive towards the use of blended learning within their science education methods course. However, the analysis determined that students felt that certain technical aspects of the blended learning environment hindered their learning.

The Effect of Intellectual Development on Approaches to Learning: A Study of the Perry Model with Pre-Service Teachers in Turkey

The recent research seeks to figure out the influence of intellectual development on learning approaches, after controlling for ages. Data were gathered from 322 pre-service primary school teachers through the Turkish versions of the University Students’ Intellectual Development Scale and the Revised Two-Factor Study Process Questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed via statistical software using descriptive statistics and a one-way multivariate analysis of covariance. Results revealed pre-service teachers’ learning approaches significantly differ on their levels of intellectual development, after controlling for their ages. Pairwise comparisons also revealed relativistic thinkers learned deeper than multiplistic ones, holding their ages constant. Enabling teacher educators in Turkey to recognize the intellectual development levels of pre-service teachers, these results may imply several suggestions for healthier communication with pre-service teachers. This study may also help teacher educators in highering pre-service teachers’ intellectual development levels in order to make them learn deeper.

Digital literacy practices of Turkish pre-service EFL teachers

With rapid changes in information and communication technologies, it is no longer sufficient for language teachers and pre-service teachers (PTs) to know how to use existing digital tools. They also need to be digitally literate in order to critically evaluate such tools and platforms for safe, wise, and productive use. Within a qualitative approach, this study investigated Turkish PTs’ conceptualisation of digital literacy. This included an exploration of how PTs defined this concept, what kind of tools they used, and for which purposes they preferred to use digital tools. First, we found that PTs concept of digital literacy consist of many levels from knowledge to use, and to critical, creative, and collaborative use. Second, we observed that university professors play an important role in the development of digital literacy levels of PTs. Third, it was found that PTs use social media platforms heavily for various purposes, however, we identified a need for further guidance in supporting PTs' use of these platforms for their professional development. The findings of this study shed light on the current digital literacy skills of PTs in Turkey and will be beneficial for educational policy makers and teacher trainers in teacher education for the twenty-first century.

The values predicting patriotism attitudes in Turkey

Today, most liberal democracies face a tension between promoting citizenship and social adaptation and between developing critical thinking skills and allowing opposition. The teaching of patriotism in schools is at the center of this tension. Within this context, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the values and the attitudes of blind and constructive patriotism by using the Schwartz’s Values Survey. The participants consisted of 342 preservice teachers in Turkey. Results showed that achievement, conformity, and tradition predicted blind patriotism positively while stimulation and universalism predicted blind patriotism negatively. On the other hand, security and universalism positively and significantly predicted constructive patriotism while tradition was a negative and significant predictor. Based on these findings, a second model involving mediation relationships was tested. Accordingly, it was observed that power mediated the relationship between conformity and blind patriotism. Thus, the non-significant and negative relationship between conformity and blind patriotism became significant and positive via the mediation of power. Similarly, the non-significant and positive relationship between the conformity and constructive patriotism became significant and negative via the mediation of power. The reason behind these findings might be the role of non-objective oral exams in teacher appointments and promotions. Moreover, the influence of political proximity to the ruling party in the employment of teachers or education administrators might have led intense and unquestionable commitment to government by conformity towards it and its actions.

An investigation of pre-service EFL teachers’ attitudes towards speakers from three circles of English

This study investigated World Englishes from the perspectives of non-native pre-service teachers in Turkey. More specifically, the study explored how EFL pre-service teachers evaluated speakers from different countries of origin, representing the different circle in Kachru’s (1985) model, either positively or negatively. To elicit their perceptions of the speakers’ English accents, we asked them to listen to audio-recordings of six different speakers representing Kachru’s Three Circles of English, reading the same passage, and then to discuss which variety they were familiar with and which one they would prefer. Pre-service teachers’ orientations towards speakers from different varieties emerged under the following themes: (i) native speakerism, (ii) intelligibility, (iii) reference to own experience, (iv) potential ownership and (v) potential professional awareness. The findings suggest that, although they were starting to develop professional awareness regarding different varieties of English, to broaden their experience of varieties, and even to develop a potential ownership, they still revealed a tendency to conform to the native-speaker norms and to rate speaker intelligibility according to these norms. We argue that revisiting language teacher education programmes to address the current sociolinguistic reality of English is a must.

The role of lesson study in teacher learning and professional development of EFL teachers in Turkey: A case study

The lesson study (jugyoukenkyuu) approach to professional development, used in Japan and various regions of North America, encourages teachers to reflect on their teaching in order to improve its overall quality. The purpose of the current study is to analyze the influence of this approach on the professional development of English as a foreign language (EFL) preservice teachers in Turkey. The lesson study format was new to all participants, and data were collected from research lessons, observations, and reflections during the teaching process. The findings suggest that lesson study contributes to teacher learning by providing teachers with concrete examples of practice.

Examining beliefs of preservice teachers about self-competency and lifelong learning competency via canonical correlation analysis

This study investigates canonical correlation between preservice teachers’ lifelong learning beliefs and self-competency beliefs. Canonical correlation analysis is a sophisticated tool which has the capacity to explain the relationships between two sets of variables (Tatlıdil, 1996). For this aim, lifelong learning and self-competency beliefs of 1242 preservice teachers in Turkey from four different departments, i.e. i.) Turkish Education, ii) Social Sciences Education, iii) Primary Education and iv) Science Education were determined. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 22 program. The findings of the study demonstrated that there is a significant canonical correlation between self-competency beliefs and lifelong learning competency beliefs with an effect size of 44%. In conclusion, self-competency beliefs predict lifelong learning competency beliefs. All dimensions of self-competency beliefs are powerful predictors of lifelong learning competency beliefs.
 
 Keywords: Preservice teachers, self-comptence beliefs, lifelong learning competency beliefs, canonical correlation.