Evaluation of information technology certificate programs in terms of 21st century skills : Bilgi teknolojileri sertifika eğitim programlarının 21. yüzyıl becerileri açısından değerlendirilmesi

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of an IT certificate program that contributes to the career development of individuals in terms of gaining 21st century skills, given the increasing competitive conditions of globalization process and developments in Information Technologies (IT). This study covers the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certificate Program in Vocational and Technical High Schools in collaboration with Cisco Networking Academy, one of the important institutions among IT certification programs. This certificate program provides training to students in the department of information technologies and electrical-electronics technologies in vocational high schools in order to meet the labor demands in the field of computer networks technology in Turkey. This certificate program is a comprehensive study starting in 2011-2012 academic year and completed in two years. However, the scope of this study is limited to the comparison of demographic characteristics and 21st century skill levels of students participating and non-participating in the certificate program. The study was conducted with 1453 students and the majority of these students were male. According to the findings of the study, it was concluded that the students who participated in the certificate program had a high level of skills in terms of 21st century skills. In addition, there was no effect of gender among students participating in technology-based certificate programs. ​Extended English summary is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file. Özet Küreselleşme sürecinin artan rekabetçi koşulları ve Bilgi Teknolojilerinde (BT) yaşanan gelişmeler göz önüne alındığında, bireylerin kariyer gelişimlerine katkı sağlayan sertifika eğitim programlarının 21. yüzyıl becerilerinin kazandırılması bakımından ne derece etkili olduğunun ortaya konması bu çalışmanın amacını oluşturmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, BT sertifika eğitim programları arasında önemli kuruluşlardan biri olan Cisco Networking Academy işbirliği ile Mesleki ve Teknik Liselerde gerçekleştirilen Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Sertifika Programı ele alınmıştır. Bu sertifika programı, Türkiye’deki bilgisayar ağları teknolojisi alanındaki işgücü taleplerini karşılamak maksadıyla meslek liselerinin bilişim ve elektrik-elektronik teknolojileri alanlarındaki öğrenciler için eğitimler düzenlemektedir. Bu sertifika eğitim programının değerlendirilmesi 2011-2012 eğitim-öğretim yılında başlayan ve iki yılda tamamlanan kapsamlı bir çalışmadır. Ancak mevcut çalışmanın kapsamı, eğitim programının birinci yılında sertifika programına katılan öğrenciler ile katılmayan öğrencilerin demografik özellikler ve 21. yüzyıl beceri düzeyleri bakımından karşılaştırılması ile sınırlıdır. Araştırma toplamda 1453 öğrenci ile gerçekleştirilmiş olup bu öğrencilerin çoğunluğu erkeklerden oluşmaktadır. Çalışmanın bulgularına göre, sertifika programına katılan öğrencilerin katılmayan öğrencilere göre 21. yüzyıl becerileri bakımından birçok düzeyde yüksek becerilere sahip oldukları ve teknoloji ağırlıklı sertifika eğitim programlarına katılan öğrenciler arasında cinsiyete bağlı dezavantajlı grupların oluşmadığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır

LIMPRINT study - the Turkish experience

Background: Lymphedema and chronic oedema is a major healthcare problem in both developed and non-developed countries The LIMPRINT study is an international health service based study to determine the prevalence and functional impact in adult populations of member countries of the International Lymphoedema Framework (ILF). Methods: 1051 patients from 8 centers in Turkey were recruited using the LIMPRINT study protocol. Data were collected using the core and module tools which assess the demographic and clinical properties as well as disability and QoL. Results: Most of the Turkish patients were recruited from specialist lymphedema services and were found to be female, housewives and having secondary lymphedema due to cancer treatment. The duration of lymphedema was commonly less than 5 years and most of them had ISL Grade 2 lymphedema. Cellulitis, infection and wounds were uncommon. The majority of patients did not get any treatment or advice before. Most of the patients had impaired QoL and decreased functionality, but psychological support was neglected. Although most had social health security access to Lymphedema centres nevertheless access seemed difficult due to distance and cost. Conclusion: The study has shown the current status and characteristics of lymphedema patients, treatment conditions, the unmet need for the diagnosis and treatment as well as burden of the disease in both patients and families in Turkey. National health policies are needed for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment in Turkey that utilise this informative data

Age- and region-specific hepatitis B prevalence in Turkey estimated using generalized linear mixed models: a systematic review

Toy M, Önder FO, Wörmann T, et al. Age- and region-specific hepatitis B prevalence in Turkey estimated using generalized linear mixed models: a systematic review. BMC infectious diseases. 2011;11(1): 337.BACKGROUND: To provide a clear picture of the current hepatitis B situation, the authors performed a systematic review to estimate the age- and region-specific prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Turkey. METHODS: A total of 339 studies with original data on the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in Turkey and published between 1999 and 2009 were identified through a search of electronic databases, by reviewing citations, and by writing to authors. After a critical assessment, the authors included 129 studies, divided into categories: 'age-specific'; 'region-specific'; and 'specific population group'. To account for the differences among the studies, a generalized linear mixed model was used to estimate the overall prevalence across all age groups and regions. For specific population groups, the authors calculated the weighted mean prevalence. RESULTS: The estimated overall population prevalence was 4.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.58, 5.76, and the estimated total number of CHB cases was about 3.3 million. The outcomes of the age-specific groups varied from 2.84, (95% CI: 2.60, 3.10) for the 0-14-year olds to 6.36 (95% CI: 5.83, 6.90) in the 25-34-year-old group. CONCLUSION: There are large age-group and regional differences in CHB prevalence in Turkey, where CHB remains a serious health problem

Investigation of source of motivation in a hybrid course

The current study investigated the sources of motivation for learning in a hybrid course. The subjects of the study were 25 students taking a hybrid course that was designed and developed covering computer networks topics. An interview form that revealed answers about the motivation source of the students was developed and used in the study. One on one interviews were made with the students. Students’ answers to the questions were recorded and transcribed. The interview data for the students were analyzed by content analysis. Students’ responses were interpreted and categorized into two types of motivation, extrinsic and intrinsic. Results indicated that intrinsic motivation and internally rewarded learning is the key element of web based instruction and hybrid courses. Interviews revealed that students with extrinsic motivation are more prone to loosing motivation. It was seen that some students in the hybrid course with extrinsic motivation lost their motivation and will to learn easily by external factors, and were frustrated by the course content. On the other hand, students with internal motivation were more aware of objectives of the course and had the ability to plan and evaluate their own learning. An in depth analysis of students' sources of motivation in a hybrid course on computer networks revealed that intrinsic motivation plays a more important role than extrinsic motivation does

HİMAYE-İ ETFAL CEMİYETİ ve EĞİTİM BOYUTU

Bu çalısmada; Sosyal hizmetlerin tanımı, Türk tarihinde kimsesiz çocuklara verilen hizmetler, bugünkü durum, yasal çerçeve, sorunlar ve çözüm önerileri üzerinde durulmustur. Amaç, Sosyal Hizmetler ve Çocuk Esirgeme Kurumu'nun kurulus amacını ve kurulusundan günümüze yürüttüğü eğitim etkinliklerini ortaya çıkarmaktır. Belirtilen amaç doğrultusunda kurucuları, kurulus süreci, faaliyet ve hizmetleri ortaya konulmaya çalısılmıstır. Arastırmanın yürütülmesinde tarihsel yöntem kullanılmıs olup verilere tarama metoduyla ulasılmıstır. Bu sayede Sosyal Hizmetler ve Çocuk Esirgeme Kurumu'nun hem geçmisteki hem de simdiki durumu olduğu gibi tespit edilmeye çalısılmıstır. Türkiye'de; sosyal refah alanında görevli kurumlardan biri Sosyal Hizmetler ve Çocuk Esirgeme Genel Müdürlüğüdür. Fakat ihtiyaca tam cevap verememektedir. Çünkü ekonomik sorunlara dayalı sosyal sorunlar oldukça artmıs olup çocuk, kadın, özürlü eğitimi, yaslı sorunları artıs eğilimdedir. Türkiye'de en büyük sorun ekonomik ve sosyal sorunlardır. Bu sorunların çözümlenmesi; çocuk yoksulluğunun azaltılması, çocukların yasama, büyüme ve gelisimleri açısından gerekli mallara ve hizmetlere ulasma haklarının gerçeklestirilmesi anlamına gelir. Çocuk yoksulluğunun azaltılması, dezavantajlı çocukların topluma katılma fırsatlarının artırılmasıdır. Bu iki konudaki duyarlılık birbirini destekleyici niteliktedir; ikisi birlikte, bir insan hakları konusu olarak çocuk yoksulluğu sorununun asılması için gerekli yapıyı olusturur. Çocukların yasama, gelisme ve eğitim hakları yasama geçirilmeden, esit fırsatlardan söz edilemez. Bunların gerçeklestirilmesinden sonra çözülmesi gereken fırsat esitliği sorunudur. Fırsat esitliğinden yararlanamadıkları sürece çocuklar yine yoksun kalacak, koruyucu ortamlar olusturulmadıkça sömürü riski devam edecektir. Bu arastırma, Sosyal Hizmetler ve Çocuk Esirgeme Kurumu'nun toplum içindeki yeri ve önemi ortaya koymustur. Ayrıca, kurum hakkında yapılan arastırmalarda kurumun incelenmeyen dönemlerle ilgili eksikliğini giderme yolunda kurulusundan günümüze bütün tarihi içerisinde gerçeklestirdiği eğitim faaliyetleri incelenmis, kurum tarihi ortaya koyulmustur.In this study; the service given to the orphans through the Turkish history, situation today, legal skeleton, problems and proposals for solution are emphasized. The aim of the study is to expose the foundation aim of the Instituion of Social Works and Children's Protection and its educational activities. As appropriate for the aim of the study, the founders, the foundation process, the activities and the services of the institution is tried to be exposed. During the performance of the research, the historical method is used and the datas are reached with the scanning method.Thanks to these methods, the situation of Instituion of Children's Protection in the past and today is tried to be determined. One of the institutions of Turkey, in charge of social wealth is the General Directorate of Social Works and Children's Protection. But it doesn't meet the needs properly. Because the social problems based on economic problems has been increased, and also, the elders' problem, the problems in education of women and disabled are in tendency of increasing. The biggest problems in Turkey are economic and social problems. The meaning of solving these problems is decraesing the poverty of children, realization of the rights of children's access to the necessary materials and services which are essential for their lifes and growth. To decrease children's poverty is to increase the opportunities of disadvantaged children's participation to the society. The sensitivity of these two subjects are supporting each other; they, together, form the necessary structure to overcome the problem of children's poverty. It is not possible to talk about the equal opportunities unless the growth and education rights of chidren are realized. Children will be devoid unless they take the advantage of equal opportunities, the risk of exploitation will continue unless protective circumstances for them is not created. This research brings up the situation and importance of Instituion of Social Works and Children's Protection in the society. Besides, the educational activities of the instutition which has been done since the institution's foundation are examined for the elimination of the deficiency of the institution from the times it was not inspected, hereby the history of the institution is introduced

Student Engagement in Blended Learning Environments with Lecture-Based and Problem-Based Instructional Approaches

This study investigates how blending of different instructional approaches with technology affects students’ engagement. A computer networks course was designed and implemented for the first eight weeks of the semester as a lecture-based blended learning environment and for the second eight weeks of the semester as a problem-based blended learning environment. A single group repeated measures research design was carried out to understand if there are significant differences in measures of student engagement between these two blended learning approaches. Repeated measure ANOVA analysis on the data collected from 89 students revealed that Active Learning and Total Time on Task indicators of student engagement were significantly higher in the problem-based part of the course. Interaction and Level of Academic Challenge components and course satisfaction did not show any significant differences between the two parts. Regression analysis showed that the difference in Active Learning is not due to student individual differences but rather the learning environment provided in the problem-based blended learning

What if we were twice as close to the sun? Findings from a Science Summer Camp Serving

Diversity has been a prevalent issue in the American STEM workforce for a number of years. Efforts to increase diversification have resulted in alternate learning spaces such as makerspaces, after school programs, and technology integrated curriculums. Our study, hosted at a non-profit organization serving underrepresented youth, leveraged the video game Minecraft (MC) as a way to engage summer campers in scientific concepts and inquiries over one week. Reoccurring themes from interviews include familial rules on technology use at home, engaging with STEM in a novel way, and a love for building and creating within MC. We discuss our insight into the discoveries and challenges of these types of STEM-oriented program that takes place in informal settings