An Examination of the Techno-pedagogical Education Competencies (TPACK) of Pre-service Elementary School and Preschool Teachers

The purpose of this study is to determine the technological pedagogical content knowledge of pre-service elementary school and preschool teachers. The fundamental problem of the study consists of the investigation of teachers' TPACK by their year of study and fields. This is a descriptive study. It was conducted using the survey model because it aimed to determine TPACK of the 995 pre-service elementary school and preschool teachers who participated in the study. They were in the departments of elementary school teaching and preschool teaching at three state universities in the spring term of the 2014-2015 academic year. The study found the means of junior (third year) and senior (fourth year) pre-service teachers in the departments of elementary school teaching and preschool teaching to be high. Their means were also high in the sub-dimensions of TPACK competence. The TPACK means of the pre-service elementary school and preschool teachers were found to be high. The TPACK means of senior pre-service elementary school and preschool teachers were determined to differ from those of junior pre-service preschool teachers. It can be stated that this difference resulted from technology and material development courses taken by the pre-service teachers in different semesters. Their pre-service education had positive effects on their TPACK. Providing pre-service technology education and practice as part of relevant courses will not be adequate. Along with the education, pre-service elementary school and preschool teachers should be provided with opportunities to use technology. These opportunities should go beyond the basis of courses that they take. It should be supplemented with practice in teaching practicum courses and should be included in practice evaluation forms as a criterion. The subdimensions of TPACK can be examined, and TPACK competency can be assessed in specific teaching programs in further studies

Analyzing the Learning Styles of Pre-Service Primary School Teachers

The purpose of this research is to analyze the learning styles of pre-service primary school teachers by various variables.  The universe of the research is composed of 2136 pre-service primary school teachers study in freshman (first year) and senior (fourth year) classes of Faculty of Education School Teaching department in Gazi University, Kırıkkale University, Ahi Evran University, Zonguldak Karaelmas University and Kafkas University in 2008-2009 academic year spring semester. Totally 1124 pre-service primary school teachers as 694 (61.74%) of them are females and 430 (38.25) of them are males have composed the sampling of the research as well. The research is realized by using the survey model because of purposing to analyze the learning styles of pre-service primary school teachers by various variables. Kolb Learning style scale is used for determining the learning styles of the pre-service primary school teachers in research. The analysis of the data obtained from the result of applying the measure tool is made by SPSS 15 statistics program. According to the results of the research that the least preferred learning style is described as accommodating when converging the dominant learning styles of pre-service primary school teachers. Keywords: The Learning Styles, Kolb Learning Style, Pre-service primary school teachers

Problems of Islamic Political Philosophy in Classical and Modern Texts

This study examines the approaches of Islamic political texts to social and political issues, both in classical and modern ages. The classical texts can be classified in two different traditions; namely, those which adopt a Greek-style discourse, such as al-Fārābī’s political works and those which prefers al-fiqh traditional and bureaucratic style, such as al-Māwardī’s and Nizām al-Mulk’s works. On the other hand, Islamic political texts of mo-dern era entertain mainly reflexive and defensive strategies, presupposing an ideal age in the past as a point of departure and return. This is the case in al-Mawdūdī’s and Sayyid Qutb’s works. The thoughts of Niccolò Machiavelli, Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes and especially those of John Rawls are taken as analyzing criteria in this study. In the scope of epistemology and political philosophy, the Anglo-Saxon tradition has some corresponding cultural goods which can be appropriated for the political needs of modern Islamic societies. On that note, it appears that there are two main approaches in the political philosophy, namely “the conceptualistic approach” and “the experimental approach”. The political works of al-Fārābī, al-Mawdūdī and Qutb employ the conceptualistic approach. While the works of al-Māwardī, Nizām al-Mulk, Niccolò Machiavelli, Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes and especially John Rawls use the experimental approach

Rasyonel Toplum ve Adalet Sorunu

Bu çalışma, toplumsal iyi niyet ile gerçek adalet arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektedir. Söz konusu iyi niyetin nesnesi önce toplum, sonra devlettir. Toplum ve devlet birbirini zorunlu olarak içeren iki temel olgu ve kavramdır. Çağdaş İslâm toplumlarında nesnesi doğru seçilmiş iyi niyetin eksikliği söz konusudur. Bu vakıa, Ortadoğu’da, şartları dün- yevi ve maddi bir adaletin tesisini zorlaştırmaktadır. Çünkü adalet, kurallı ve geçerli bir toplumsal düzene tekabül etmektedir. Bu bağlamda Osmanlı Devlet’inde mevcut olan adalet dairesi kavramı ile Kıta Avrupası menşeli çağdaş sosyal adalet teorileri ve Ameri- ka Birleşik Devletleri menşeli çağdaş liberal felsefi adalet kuramlarının eş-işlevli olduğu saptanmaktadır. Bu meyanda adalet dairesini işleyen mütefekkirler ile sözgelimi Hannah Arendt, Jürgen Habermas, John Rawls, Bernard Williams ve Ronald Dworkin gibi çağ- daş düşünürler aynı toplumsal hakikati dile getirmektedirler. Düzen fikri olmaksızın ger- çek adalete erişmek mümkün değildir. Ortadoğu’da yaşayanlar glokalizasyon süreçleri nedeniyle bu toplumsal hakikate uzak görünmektedirler

Türkiye’deki İslâmî Fırkalaşma ve Cemaat Olgusunun Felsefî Tahlili

Bu çalışmada, modern dönemde Türkiye’de gelişmiş olan dini ayrılıkların ve cemaat olgusunun felsefi bağlamda tahlili yapılmaktadır. Söz konusu tahlil, “fırka” ve “cemaat” kavramlarının, klasik İslâm tarihi, modern sosyoloji ve çağdaş Türkiye toplumu bakımından ayrı ayrı teşhisini zorunlu kılmaktadır. Bu nedenle Ludwig Wittgenstein ve Michel Foucault felsefeleriyle Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’ın post-kolonyalist çözümlemeleri, modern Türkiye tecrübesine uygulanmaktadır. Çalışmanın temel savı, Türkiye’de dini tartışmaların gerçekçi bir toplum tabanının bulunmadığı ve cemaatlerin bir ihtiyaca karşılık olarak türedikleridir. Dini tartışmalar ile cemaatlerin mevcudiyetinden kaynaklanan din algılarının birbirine karıştırılmaması gerekmektedir. Fırkalaşma olgusunun hayali olmasına kıyasla cemaat olgusundan türeyen yeni din anlayışları toplumsal bir gelişmedir. İkisinin de anlaşılabileceği bağlam, sömürge tecrübesi ve küreselleşme kavramlarında bulunabilir. Böylece makale, toplumsal gerçekliğe ve onun bilime taşınmasının arkeolojisiyle meşgul olmaktadır

ALTERNATİF GAZZÂLÎ EPİSTEMOLOJİSİ OKUMALARI İÇİN BİR DENEME: TOPLUMSAL ÖNKOŞULLU BİR BAĞLAMDA ‘CEDEL’ VE ‘KEŞF’İN ANLAMI

Bu çalışmada Gazzâlî‟nin bir takım metinlerinde kendini gösteren bir ayrımın tartışılmasına dikkat çekmek amaçlanmaktadır. Bu bakış açısına göre hakikati bilmenin yolu akıl değildir; çünkü akıl için her şey eşit ölçüde mümkündür. Hakikati bilmenin tek yolu insana verilen keşiftir. Bu ayrım, hakikat yolundaki aklın işlevsel yorumlanmasına neden olmaktadır. Yaşam ile akıl arasındaki uyuşmazlıkları gidermenin yolunu bulamayan aklın üzerinde bir idrak yolunun bulunduğunu söyleyerek Gazzâlî, akla karşı çıkmış olmamaktadır, bilakis daha nesnel bir olanağı soruşturmaktadır. Çağdaş felsefeden verilen örneklerle bunu daha anlaşılır kılmak mümkün görünmektedir. Bu durum, modern Gazzâlî okumalarında bir devrim yaratacak nitelikte önemlidir. Böylece Gazzâlî işlevsel akılla ortak bilgiyi, hakikatle keşfi birbirine bağlamakta, ayrıca bilgiyi toplumsal alana, hakikati ise kişiye mal etmektedir

Climate trend analysis of the level changes in Iznik Lake in Turkey

The purpose of this study was to carry out the statistical analysis on the changes in watershed climate and the level of Iznik Lake, which is one of the major lakes in Turkey, and determine the trends. Correlation and regression analysis were carried out in order to manifest the association between climate elements and changes in the lake elevation and a positive significant association between them was determined. Quadratic and Linear Trend models were used to determine the trend inclinations. According to the results obtained from the analysis, the watershed area shall have an increased vaporization of approximately 10 cm (100mm) until the year 2025, whereas according to the values foreseen by the United Nations for the earth in a century’s time which are approximated as an increase of 1,4-5,8 °C, the increase has been concluded as 0,5 -5 °C. According to the Quadratic Trend model, the increase would be (140 mm), whereas according to the Linear Trend model there would be a decrease of 20 mm. As a result, it was estimated that according to both trend analysis carried out in order to determine the level changes of Iznik lake, the lake level shall decrease approximately 30 cm until the year 2025

The relationship between emotional intelligence dimensions and conflict management strategies of academics in selected turkish universities

This study aims to identify dimensions of emotional intelligence of academics and to reveal their conflict management strategies at selected Turkish Universities with focusing whether there are significant changes in dimensions and conflict management strategies of respondent academics depending on demographic variables. The research carried out at four Turkish universities further investigated the relationships between emotional intelligence and conflict management strategies of academics. Findings indicated that motivation and social skills dimensions of academics in general and of academics lacking PhD degree need improvement as does male academics’ empathy dimension. Integrating strategy was found to be the most preferred strategy of academics while obliging strategy seemed to be the least used style in handling conflicts. Results revealed that motivation, social skills and dimensions of respondent academics are positively associated with integrating strategy as the effective way of handling interpersonal conflicts and enhancing job performance.Bu çalışmanın amacı, cevaplayıcıların demografik değişkenlere bağlı olarak duygusal zeka boyutları ve çatışma yönetimi stratejilerinde değişme olup olmadığına odaklanarak seçilen Türkiye üniversitelerindeki akademisyenlerin duygusal zeka boyutlarını saptamak ve çatışma yönetimi stratejilerini ortaya koymaktır. Araştırma dört Türk üniversitesinde gerçekleştirilerek akademik personelin duygusal zekaları ve çatışma yönetimi stratejileri arasındaki ilişkiler incelenmiştir. Bulgular, genel olarak akademisyenlerin ve doktora derecesi olmayan akademisyenlerin motivasyon ve sosyal beceriler boyutları ile erkek akademisyenlerin empati boyutunun geliştirilmesi gerektiğini ortaya koymuştur. Çatışmaların yönetiminde, işbirliği stratejisi en çok ve başkasını tanıma stratejisi de en az tercih edilen strateji olarak görülmektedir. Sonuçlar, cevaplayıcı akademisyenlerin motivasyon ve sosyal beceriler boyutları ile kişilerarası çatışmaları çözmenin ve işteki performansı arttırmanın etkin bir yolu olan işbirliği stratejisinin pozitif ilişkili olduğunu ortaya koymuştur

Synthesis, Experimental and Theoretical Characterization of (μ4-oxo)hexakis(μ2-chloro)-tetrakis[1-(allyl)-1H-imidazole]tetracopper(II)

A new [Cu4OCl6L4] cluster [L = 1-(allyl)-1H-imidazole] has been isolated and its crystal structure and spectroscopic properties determined. The compound crystallizes as a yellow solid in the monoclinic system, space group P21, with cell constants a = 10.6937(7) Å, b = 13.1004(7) Å, c = 13.2452(9) Å, β = 93.537(6)°, and two formula units per cell. The title tetranuclear complex has a central µ4-oxide ion surrounded tetrahedrally by four CuII atoms. Each Cu atom is connected to three others via bridging Cl atoms. The fifth coordination position, located on the central Cu─O axis on the outside of the cluster, is occupied by an N atom of the monodentate imidazole ligand. The resulting coordination geometry of the metal ion is a slightly distorted trigonal bipyramid with the O and N atoms in the axial positions. The molecular structure and spectroscopic data were obtained using density functional theory (DFT/HSEH1PBE) method with the cc-pVDZ basis set for C, H, N, O and Cl atoms, and the LANL2DZ basis set for the Cu atoms, and compared with the experimental data. Consequently, the experimental data well coherences with the theoretical ones

Examination of Types of Mathematical Connections that Pre-service Mathematics Teachers Use in Teaching Processes

This study aims to examine the types of mathematical associations that pre-service mathematics teachers use in their teaching processes and their opinions on the mathematical connection. For this purpose, a total of 60 pre-service mathematics teachers made teaching plans related to a learning outcome from the Turkish middle school mathematics curriculum. The research conducted with case study design within the qualitative research methods. Video recordings, field notes and an opinion form were used as data collection tools. The data were analyzed by a content analysis method. Results of the study show that almost all of the pre-service teachers have an understanding of mathematical connections. It was determined that the types of connections between concepts, between different representations and connections with real life were prominent, while the type of association with different disciplines was less common during the teaching processes. Connections were mainly made by giving examples through verbal expressions. These results provide an important perspective on the mathematical connectionskills of pre-service primary mathematics teachers. Suggestions for improving pre-service teachers' mathematical association skills were presented acording to the results of the study