Soner Yildirim

Effects of an Educational Computing Course on Preservice and Inservice Teachers: A Discussion and Analysis of Attitudes and Use.

Abstract This study examined the changes in preservice and inservice teachers’ attitudes toward computers following their participation in an educational computing class, and it explored the factors that contributed to their computer use. The study used data from 114 preservice and inservice teachers (83 female, 31 male) who attended a university in southern California. Results of doubly multivariate repeated measures indicated that teachers’ attitudes (anxiety, confidence, and liking) significantly improved after the computer literacy course. The follow-up study indicated that teachers’ prior computer experience shaped their expectations of the course. Teachers reported that having a home computer, a professor’s willingness to teach, and the current use of technology in the schools at which they work also influenced their attitudes toward and use of computers.

A Review of ICT Related Courses in Pre-service Teacher Education Programs

This study investigated teacher educators’, prospective teachers’, and K-12 teachers’ opinions about the effectiveness of ICT related courses and the ways to improve the courses in Turkey’s pre-service teacher education programs. The researchers used both quantitative and qualitative research approaches within the data collection and analysis processes. The data were collected from 111 teacher educators, 1,330 prospective teachers, and 1,429 K-12 teachers through questionnaires; and from 6 teacher educators, 6 prospective teachers, and 6 K-12 teachers through interviews. Even though a majority of the participants felt that ICT related courses are effective, most participants recommended that these courses need to be redesigned to be more beneficial in practice.

Faculty Computer Use and Training: Identifying Distinct Needs for Different Populations

A quantitative survey directed at all faculty at a California urban community college yielded data from 117 faculty about computer use, competency, and attitudes toward using computers. Correlation analysis, multiple regression, and Ordinary Least Squares regression were used to delineate the relationships between computer use and other variables and to develop a path analysis model depicting the relationship among attitude, courses taken, having a home computer, competency, and computer use. The researchers present their model along with data obtained from an open-ended qualitative survey administered to elucidate further the relationships among these variables. Based on their quantitative and qualitative findings, the authors make suggestions for future research to assist in faculty development efforts.

A path model for technology integration into elementary school settings in Turkey

A three phase Sequential Mixed Method Design was utilized to propose and test a research-based model explaining the relationships between technology integration in Elementary Schools and a defined set of teacher and school-related factors. In the first phase, interviews were conducted with 20 elementary school teachers to identify critical factors influencing their technology use. The qualitative findings guided the development of a survey instrument in the second phase. In the final phase, the survey was administered to 1030 classroom teachers in eight districts of Ankara, Turkey. The direct and indirect effects of these factors on technology integration were explored. Factors included years of teaching experience, years of computer use, principal support, colleague support, technology competency, attitudes and beliefs toward using technology, and lack of time. The model showed technology integration as a complex process involving many interrelated factors, with particular importance placed on competency, support, experience, and attitudes. This comprehensive model of technology integration in elementary schools will be especially useful for practitioners and researchers in developing countries as they face the challenge of adapting instructional technologies in their frequently evolving curriculums and education systems.

Language practice with multimedia supported web-based grammar revision material

The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of elementary-level English language learners towards web-based, multimedia-annotated grammar learning. WEBGRAM, a system designed to provide supplementary web-based grammar revision material, uses audio-visual aids to enrich the contextual presentation of grammar and allows learners to revise target grammatical structures using interactive exercises such as gap-filling, combo-box and drag-and-drop exercises. This study gathered quantitative data on learner satisfaction, attention and participation and qualitative data with regard to the material’s content, visual and instructional design, usability, practicality and effectiveness. The findings indicate that learners enjoyed using the material and developed a positive attitude towards the system.

A growing fear: Prevalence of nomophobia among Turkish college students

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of nomophobia (the fear of being out of mobile phone contact) among young adults in Turkey. The Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) was administered to 537 Turkish college students. The results revealed 42.6% of young adults had nomophobia, and their greatest fears were related to communication and information access. The study also found that gender and the duration of smartphone ownership had an effect on young adults’ nomophobic behaviors, whereas age and the duration of mobile phone ownership had no effect. Based on these results, implications, limitations, and further studies were discussed.

Teachers’ Facebook use: their use habits, intensity, self-disclosure, privacy settings, and activities on Facebook

This study investigated K12 teachers’ Facebook usage habits, intensity, self-disclosure, privacy settings and activities. A multi-method design was employed by collecting quantitative data from 616 teachers with a Facebook account using an online questionnaire and qualitative data from 32 teachers using online open-ended questions. The results of the study showed that Facebook seems to be part of teachers’ daily routines. Moreover, they revealed that teachers were less likely to share sensitive and potentially stigmatising personal information on Facebook. Teachers were also found to set most of their Facebook privacy settings as “Friends” by taking intimacy, unwanted contacts and potential threats into consideration. Furthermore, the findings indicated that teachers felt themselves less comfortable when parents and students viewed their Facebook profiles. In addition to social engagement, teachers pointed out several ways in which Facebook was used to support educational and professional development practices. Implications, limitations and directions to further studies are discussed.

Enthusiasm vs. experience in mentoring: a comparison of turkish novice and experienced teachers in fulfilling supervisory roles

Abstracthis study investigates how trainee teachers perceive their supervising teachers’ supervisory competency. Through a questionnaire that was specifically developed for this study and which contained open-ended questions, student teacher candidates were asked to comment on their supervising teachers’ competency in preparation for supervision, instructional planning and reflection, and collegial supervision and effective mentoring. Data for this study was gathered from 690 student teachers who were in their last year in college pursuing a teaching credential. The results indicated that the student teachers rated their supervising teachers’ competency in supervision as poor to partially competent. Although there is no significant relation found between the gender and fulfillment of supervisory duties, the main significant finding was between supervising teachers’ experience in teaching and completion of the supervisory role. The results showed that the younger or less experienced supervising teachers demonstrated better supervisory skills. Furthermore, our results indicated that although experience is important, it should not be the only criterion for selecting supervising teachers for supervisory duty.

What makes a good LMS: an analytical approach to assessment of LMSs

This study aims to describe the key issues in assessment of a learning management system for higher education institutions and eventually to construct a criteria list.

ICT Teachers' Professional Growth Viewed in Terms of Perceptions about Teaching and Competencies.

Technology integration into the classroom has a major role in creating rich learning and teaching environments. It is obvious that the success of the effective use of technology in classrooms highly depends on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teachers who are responsible for integrating technology and mentoring other teachers in using it successfully. However, it is unclear how ICT teachers play a role for the achievement of the integration process and what challenges they experience during this process. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to portray the professional growth of ICT teachers in terms of their perceptions of teaching and their competencies in the Turkish elementary education system. Data was obtained from 104 (55 female, 49 male) ICT teachers. The quantitative data analysis was supplemented with a qualitative analysis to get a better understanding of the professional growth among in-service ICT teachers. Results showed that despite their positive self-perceptions of competence, ICT teachers faced difficulties such as classroom management, number of students, and hardware-software issues regarding the effective use of technology, especially cutting edge technology, in the classroom. According to teachers, the ability to integrate technology in the classroom was negatively affected by time limitations, poor design of Information Technology (IT) class, lack of flexibility in their roles as teachers, overcrowded classes, and classroom management issues. Finally, this study looked at ICT teachers’ opinions regarding factors that encourage/discourage them from working in schools. The results of this study also shed light on the awareness of the significance of integrating technology into their teaching and learning activities.