REFLECTION OF ACADEMICIANS IN USING BLENDED LEARNING

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, the physical conditions of learning environments and the measures taken within the scope of combating the epidemic have made blended teaching practices, including distance education, much more important. With this study, it is aimed to shed light on the opinions and experiences of the academicians, who are thought to have a higher assumption of experiencing the blended teaching method, regarding the use of the blended method at the higher education level during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this study, a mixed research methodology was adopted in which quantitative and qualitative data were used together by using a convenient sampling method. In this context, the data collection tool was shared with the academicians via the LinkedIn network. 58 academicians from 16 universities participated in the research. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage and mean) were used in the analysis of Likert-type quantitative questions, and content analysis was used in the analysis of qualitative data. According to the findings of the study, academics who stated that they could possibly teach with the blended method in the future stated that their educational experience in blended courses was better than in face-to-face courses without any web component. On the other hand, academics mostly stated that the amount of interaction in blended courses is lower than in face-to-face courses. Together with these findings, it is understood that academicians perceive the quality of interaction in blended courses as similar to the quality of interaction in face-to-face courses. According to academics, the most positive aspects of using the blended method in lessons are the use of technological opportunities, flexibility of space, flexibility of time and equality of opportunity. The most negative aspects of using the blended method are attendance problems, lack of communication, infrastructure problems and technological inadequacies and workload. It is understood that the materials, tools or technologies that academicians use most in blended courses are need-oriented trainings (web 2.0, web, innovation, technique, etc.), video and audio peripherals, online content, virtual reality technology and a powerful computer. Although some of the academicians stated that their experiences in blended courses affected their face-to-face courses, almost half of them stated that their blended course experiences did not affect their face-to-face courses. These results may guide both present and future policies and procedures for blended learning in general.  Article visualizations

Bitlis ilinin kalkınmasında turizmin rolü : yerel paydaşlar üzerine bir araştırma

06.03.2018 tarihli ve 30352 sayılı Resmi Gazetede yayımlanan “Yükseköğretim Kanunu İle Bazı Kanun Ve Kanun Hükmünde Kararnamelerde Değişiklik Yapılması Hakkında Kanun” ile 18.06.2018 tarihli “Lisansüstü Tezlerin Elektronik Ortamda Toplanması, Düzenlenmesi ve Erişime Açılmasına İlişkin Yönerge” gereğince tam metin erişime açılmıştır.Turizm faaliyetleri dünya genelinde giderek artmaktadır. Özellikle bilgi ve iletişim teknolojilerindeki hızlı gelişmeler, turizm faaliyetlerindeki bu artışa önemli katkılar sağlamaktadır. Teknoloji ile beraber beşeri sermayenin giderek önemli hale gelmesi, insanların hem harcayabilecekleri gelirlerinin hem de boş zamanlarının artmasına sebep olmaktadır. Harcanabilir gelir ve boş zamanın artması doğal olarak turizm faaliyetlerinin artmasına da önemli katkılar sağlamıştır. Turizm toplumlar üzerinde önemli etkilere sebep olmaktadır. Bu etkiler ekonomik, sosyal, kültürel veya çevresel olabilmektedir. Turizmin toplumsal etkileri olumlu olabileceği gibi olumsuz da olabilmektedir. Bütün bu etkiler turizmin ülke, şehir veya bölgelerin kalkınmasında önemli bir rol oynamasını da beraberinde getirmektedir. Bu etkiler ancak turizm endüstrisinin geliştirilmesi ile sağlanabilmektedir. Bunun önemli bir koşulu da turizm faaliyetlerinin gerçekleştiği bölgelerdeki yerel paydaşların turizme destek vermesidir. Bu anlamda turizmin bölgesel etkilerinden haberdar, turizmden fayda sağlayan paydaşların turizme daha fazla destek vereceği söylenebilir. Bütün bu sebepler bölgesel kalkınmada turizmin rolüne ilişkin paydaşlar üzerinde yapılan araştırmaları önemli kılmaktadır. Bu araştırmada Bitlis ilinin kalkınmasında turizmin rolünün yerel paydaşların fikirleri doğrultusunda araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında hem nicel hem de nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden faydalanılmıştır. Yerel halktan nicel araştırma yöntemleri veri toplama araçlarından anket, kamu görevlileri ve özel sektör temsilcilerinden ise nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden veri toplama aracı olarak mülakat tercih edilerek veriler toplanmıştır. Bu kapsamda yerel halktan 396 adet anket toplanmış, ayrıca 11 kamu görevlisi ve 9 özel sektör temsilcisi ile de mülakat yapılarak elde edilen veriler analize tabi tutulmuştur. Anket çalışması sonucu elde edilen verilere ilişkin yapılan testler sonucu verilerin normal dağılım göstermediği tespit edilmiştir. Bundan dolayı verilerin analiz edilmesinde non-parametrik testlerden faydalanılmıştır. Mülakat sonucu elde edilen veriler ise betimsel analiz tekniği ile analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre katılımcıların Bitlis ilinin kalkınmasında turizmin önemli bir rolünün olduğunu düşündükleri tespit edilmiştir. "Zengin tarihi ve kültürel değerlere sahip olması ve zengin mutfak kültürü Bitlis'te alternatif turizmin gelişmesi açısından avantajdır" ifadesi bütün ifadeler içerisinde en yüksek katılımın olduğu ifade olmuştur. Bunun yanında, "Yerel yönetimler (belediye, kaymakamlık vb.) turizmin gelişmesinde etkin bir şeklide çalışmaktadır" ifadesi bütün ifadeler içinde en düşük katılımın olduğu ifade olmuştur. Ayrıca araştırmadaki ifadelerin önemli bir kısmı cinsiyet, yaş, eğitim, meslek ve Bitlis'te yaşam süresine göre anlamlı farklık göstermiştir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Bölgesel Kalkınma, Turizmin Rolü, Ekonomik Etki, Sosyal Etki, Kültürel Etki, Çevresel Etki, BitlisTourism has been retrieving an increasing importance all over the world. The rapid accesses of technology into human life have paved the way for gaining rapid information and maintain an easier life. This situation has been resulting in the rise of free time and spendable income which have critical roles in for tourism. The increasing importance of intellectual capital leads people to a more liberates life. The relationship between tourism and liberation gives a rise to the development of tourism day by day. It is a common truth that tourism has important effects on communities. Considering the discussions related to these effects, the economic effects are generally being mentioned. Especially its income-generating effect leads tourism to be an important economic power. But beside economic effects, tourism in a very wide axis leaves social, cultural and environmental impressions as well. Cultural amalgamation, social and personal development, empathy and environmental awareness are a few among income-generating effects. Apart from the given positive effects of tourism, there are also some effects of tourism known as negative. However these negative effects are less when compared to positives and can be dissolved with corrective precautions. Therefore, with the social effects of its, tourism undertakes an important mission regarding the development of communities and regions and clearing away the interregional derangements. Improving the tourism industry can be ensured with the supports of local shareholders in the regions tourism activities being carried out. At this point, it can be said that the shareholders whom are aware of the effects of tourism on regional development will support tourism more. It should be said that, the shareholders consisted of locals and their delegates are having a say in the region and over the tourism of the region. This study has been carried out to identify the ideas of shareholders about the effects of tourism on regional development in Bitlis province in need of development. In this 396 surveys have been applied to locals, 11 public officials and 9 private sector representatives have been interviewed and the gained data has been analyzed. With the study the probable effects of tourism that can assist the regional development of Bitlis have been evaluated according to the shareholders' point of view. It has also been concluded that the answers given by the participant have shown differentials according to the demographic variables. Keywords: Regional Development, Role of Tourism, Economic Effect, Social Effect, Cultural Effect, Environmental Effect, Bitli

Utilization of ceramic waste in the production of Khorasan mortar

Khorasan mortar was used in almost all of the historical structures in the geographical area of turkey. It is still used in the renovation of these structures. Water, lime, baked clay is used in the production of Khorasan by breaking and grinding. Crushed brick and tiles are preferred as baked clay. In this study, the usability of ceramic wastes as baked clay was investigated. An important part of ceramic production is made especially in Eskişehir and its vicinity. 10% of ceramic production shows up as wastes because of various reasons. These wastes which are under 20 mm are crushed in the jaw breakers and these which are under 150 mm are grinned in grinders, transformed to powder and then mixed with hydrated lime and water in various proportions, in this way Khorasan mortars are obtained. In mortar production, crushed ceramic-ceramic powder ratio, ceramic-lime ratio were changed and the most suitable ratios were tried to be found. Samples taken from these mortars which are 4 cm x 4 cm x 16 cm in size are removed after a day from the mold and kept in humid environment. Physical and mechanical properties such as unit weight, ultrasonic pulse velocity, bending strength, compressive strength of the mortar were determined. As a result of the experiments, the unit weights range was between 1.5–1.65 kg/dm3, the ultrasonic pulse velocity rates range from 1.3–1.9 km/h, the range of bending strengths was from 0.25–1.05 MPa, and compressive strength has changed in the range of 7.5–10.5 MPa. With the work done, it is recommended to use a high percentage of lime while using ceramic wastes in the process of producing Khorasan mortar

10 yaş grubu öğrencilerinin finansal okuryazarlık eğitimi almaları ile tüketim ve tasarruf davranışları arasındaki ilişkinin analizi

Günümüzde yetişkinler kadar çocuklar da giderek karmaşık hale gelen ekonomik sistemde doğru kararlar verebilmelerini gerektiren bir çağda yaşamaktadırlar. Çocukların doğru finansal kararlar almalarını sağlamak için çocuklara finansal bilgi ve beceri kazandırılmasının kritik ve acil bir ihtiyaç olduğu pek çok araştırmacının ortak görüşüdür. Çocuklar için finansal eğitim programı hazırlanırken cinsiyet, ırk, yaş, eğitim düzeyi vb. birçok faktör dikkate alınmalıdır. Ayrıca eğitim programlarının çocukların yaşam boyu kullanabilecekleri finansal bilgi ve becerileri içerecek şekilde yapılandırılmaları önerilmektedir. Erken yaşlarda kazanılacak/kazandırılacak doğru tüketim alışkanlıkları ve tasarruf bilinci ile ülkemiz kalkınmasına katkı sağlanabilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, 10 yaş grubu öğrencilerinin finansal okuryazarlık eğitimleri ile tüketim ve tasarruf davranışları arasındaki ilişkinin ortaya konulmasıdır. Araştırmada Eskişehir ili Tepebaşı ve Odunpazarı ilçe merkezinde Mustafa Kemal İlkokulu, Dumlupınar İlkokulu ve Şehit Mustafa Türker İlkokulu’na 4. Sınıfta öğrenim gören (10 yaş grubu) toplam 122 öğrenciden bir çalışma grubu oluşturulmuştur. Araştırma yarı-deneysel bir çalışma olarak yürütülmüştür. Bu doğrulta her üç okulda deney ve kontrol grupları oluşturulmuştur. Deney gruplarına araştırmacılar tarafından hazırlanan finansal okuryazarlık eğitim modüleri doğrultunda toplam 300 dakika (10 modül) eğitim verilmiştir. Araştırma sonunda deney grubunda bulunan öğrencilerin finansal okuryazarlık eğitimleri ile tüketim ve tasarruf konularında bilgi ve becerilerinin arttığı gözlenmiştir

Design of vitamin E d-α-Tocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate-Emulsified Poly (D,L–Lactide–co-Glycolide) Nanoparticles: Influence of Duration of Ultrasonication Energy

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of the duration of ultrasonication energy on the physicochemical characteristics of the nano–sized particulate drug delivery systems. For this purpose, meloxicam-loaded vitamin E d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS)-emulsified poly (D,L–lactide–co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles were designed by using ultrasonication-solvent evaporation technique and were characterized by photon correlation spectroscopy for size and size distribution, scanning electron microscopy for surface morphology and laser Doppler anemometry for surface charge. Ultraviolet -spectrophotometer was used to measure the drug encapsulation efficiency and to obtain in vitro drug release profile. The results showed that the physicochemical properties of the prepared nanoparticles are effectively controlled by the amount of shear stress transferred from the energy source to the emulsion, which is strongly correlated to the ultrasonication time

Financial Policies of European Union Countries Regarding the Tourism Industry in COVID-19 Process

Purpose – The aim of this study is to examine the financial policies implemented by EU countries in the tourism industry during the COVID-19 process. Design/methodology/approach – The tourism industry has been studied for two reasons. First, the pandemic has significantly affected the tourism industry due to its dynamic structure, which is very quickly affected by crises. The rapid spread of the pandemic through international travel operations has deepened this situation. Second, there are a large number of new entrepreneurs and SME-level enterprises in the tourism industry mostly in need of financial support. In the study, qualitative research methods were used and document analysis was used as a data collection tool. Data on the fiscal and monetary policies implemented by EU countries for the tourism industry during the COVID-19 process were obtained from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Content analysis was used in the study. The data obtained were analyzed with the help of MAXQDA Qualitative Analysis Program. Findings – According to the results of the study, the financial and monetary policies developed by European Union countries to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry have strong relations with each other. Countries provide support for tourism enterprises to continue their activities. The support given is mainly focused on SMEs. In addition, support is provided to make employment sustainable, liquidity assistance is provided to eliminate cash shortages, especially in credit and employment support Discussion – In fiscal policy, it functions as important in banks as it does in public authorities. Credit, liquidity and tax are the financial instruments most involved in financial policies

A research about the effects of personality traits over tourism management department preferencesKişilik özelliklerinin turizm bölümleri tercihlerine etkileri üzerine bir araştırma

Tourism industry maintains its rapid growing rate both in the world and Turkey in recent years. Since tourism industry is service-driven, human resource is considerably important. Therefore a great number of qualified labour force is needed and the importance of educational institutions that are aim to train labour force for tourism industry is increased. The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between the reason to prefer tourism department and personality traits of tourism students In this study, examining the relation between personality -the term that is related to human’s psychological and physiological structure- and department preference enhances its importance. Survey form technique has been used as data collecting tool. Obtained data was analysed by using SPSS and LISREL Soft wares. Regression analysis shows personality traits explains 32% of career opportunities, 17% of professional convenience and 28% sectoral attractiveness among the reason to prefer tourism department. ÖzetTurizm endüstrisi son yıllarda hem dünya genelinde hem de Türkiye’de hızlı bir büyüme seyri göstermektedir. Turizm, hizmet ağırlıklı bir endüstri olması nedeni ile turizmde insan kaynağı oldukça önem taşımaktadır. Bu durum da çok sayıda yetişmiş elemana ihtiyacı ortaya çıkarmaktadır. Bu nedenle turizm endüstrisine eleman yetiştirmeye yönelik eğitim veren kurumların da önemi son yıllarda artmıştır. Bu Araştırmada turizm eğitimi alan öğrencilerin turizm bölümünü tercih etme nedenleri ile kişilik özellikleri arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu araştırmada insanın psikolojik veya fizyolojik yapısı ile ilgili bir kavram olan kişiliğin bölüm tercihi ile ilişkisinin incelenmesi araştırmayı literatür açısından önemli hale getirmektedir. Araştırmanın veri toplamasında anket tekniği tercih edilmiştir. Kolayda örnekleme yöntemi ile belirlenen 285 turizm lisans öğrencilerinden yüz yüze anketler doldurtularak veriler elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen veriler SPSS ve LISREL programlarından faydalanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma sonuçları kişilik özelliklerinin turizm bölümü tercih sebeplerini etkileyen bir faktör oluğunu; turizm bölümü tercih sebeplerinin boyutlarından kariyer fırsatlarını yaklaşık %32, mesleki kolaylığı yaklaşık %17 ve sektörel çekiciliği ise yaklaşık %28 oranında açıkladığını ortaya koymaktadır

The impacts of negative problem orientation on perceived risk and travel intention in the context of COVID-19: a PLS-SEM approach

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic, which appeared in China in late 2019, has affected the world psychologically, socially and economically in 2020. Tourism is one of the areas where the effects of COVID-19 have been felt most clearly. The study aims to determine the effect of negative problem orientation (NPO) and perceived risk related to the COVID-19 pandemic on travel and destination visit intention. Design/methodology/approach: This study employed a convenience and probabilistic sampling method for collecting data from 531 respondents using an online questionnaire. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for testing research model. Findings: According to the findings, NPO and perceived risk related to the pandemic were found to have direct and indirect effects on the travel behavior of tourists. The results of this research provide theoretical and practical implications for hospitality and travel businesses on topics such as the psychological effects of the pandemic and the travel behaviors of tourists. Originality/value: It is estimated that the pandemic will also affect tourist behavior due to its effects on human psychology. For this reason, a study conducted in the context of tourist behavior theories is expected to contribute to the literature, managers and future of the tourism