Mesut Saçkes

Young children's computer skills development from kindergarten to third grade

This investigation explores young childrens computer skills development from kindergarten to third grade using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten (ECLS-K) dataset. The sample size of the study was 8642 children. Latent growth curve modeling analysis was used as an analytical tool to examine the development of childrens computer skills using LISREL software version 8.80. Results indicated, not surprisingly, that the availability of a computer at home and a high socio-economic status were statistically significant predictors of childrens baseline computer skills in kindergarten. The availability of computers in kindergarten, however, was a statistically significant predictor of the development of childrens computer skills from kindergarten to third grade. Although there was no difference between girls and boys in their baseline computer skills in kindergarten, the rate of development in computer skills was higher for girls than boys. Results suggest that the availability of an adequate level of computers in kindergarten classrooms can help close the initial gap in childrens computer skills due to socio-economic status and lack of computer access prior to entering school. Supplying kindergarten classrooms with adequate computers could positively contribute to childrens long-term development of computer skills.

Okul Öncesi Öğretmen Adaylarının Bilimsel Kavramların İçselleştirmesinde Grafikleri Zihin Aracı Olarak Kullanmaları

Bu calisma okul oncesi ogretmen adaylarinin topladiklari verileri anlamada bir zihin araci olarak grafikleri nasil kullandiklarini ve grafik kullaniminin ogretmen adaylarinin bilimsel kavramlari icsellestirmesini nasil kolaylastirdigini incelemeyi amaclamaktadir. Yirmi alti okul oncesi ogretmen adayi calismaya katilmistir. Arastirma verileri katilimci gozlem teknigi ile toplanmistir. Gozlemler ve gozlem esnasinda sinifta ogrenciler arasinda meydana gelen konusmalar alan notlari biciminde kaydedilmistir. Bu calisma verilerin analizi ve yorumlanmasinda Vygotsky’nin sosyo-kulturel kuramini temel almistir. Sonuclar grafik kullaniminin bilissel yuku azaltarak ve oruntu tanilama ve oruntuden sonuc cikarma gibi yuksek duzey zihinsel fonksiyonlarin islemesini saglayarak okul oncesi ogretmen adaylarinin hedeflenen bilimsel kavramlari anlamalarini kolaylastirdigini gostermistir.