Social Studies in Out-of-Class Learning Environments: A study on Teacher Candidates’ Views and Awareness

This research aimed to investigate the awareness of out-of-class learning environments that can be utilized in social studies courses among both social studies teacher candidates and primary school teacher candidates. Social studies, with its interdisciplinary nature, has the potential to provide a wide array of out-of-class learning opportunities, and we aimed to explore this aspect. In pursuit of this objective, we sought to evaluate the extent of teacher candidates’ familiarity with these learning environments and their ability to establish connections between these settings and the content of the social studies course. In our research we used the descriptive case study which is one of the types of qualitative research methods. In this context, we carried out the qualitative data collection process within the framework of the interview technique through a ‘semi-structured interview form’ for the participating teacher candidates. We analyzed all the collected data using descriptive analysis. As a result of our analyses, we found that teacher candidates from both programs who had taken this course were able to identify a wide range of out-of-class learning environments and that the most common examples they mentioned were ‘museums, libraries, schoolyard, canteens and historical sites/places, excursions and laboratories’. However, we found that both groups had relative difficulty in associating these learning environments with the social studies curriculum and content. When we assessed whether this finding indicated a difference in the extent of the teacher candidates’ own branches and the course hours they had taken, we found that the examples of association of the teacher candidates with less social studies field education were far behind the examples of the social studies teacher candidates. Another significant finding from the research is that the teacher candidates were more capable of offering robust examples of associations related to out-of-class in-school learning environments compared to those associated with out-of-school learning environments

E-Learning as a Teaching Strategy Actively Used in FATIH Project

The changes and innovations in information and communication technologies influence the economic and social lives of the societies to a great degree. The countries accordingly take new decisions to benefit effectively from these technologies. The new media system scrolling traditional educational paradigms has also required changes in educational systems. Thanks to the new media-equipped education system in which equality of facility and opportunity parallel to world standards is provided and technologic improvement is individualized, a new generation student profile will emerge who has global competitive skill and individual conscious and awareness. The new generation student profile has to carry the skills of problem solving, using the language eloquently, creativity, critical thinking, life-long learning, media, technology and information literacy, social responsibility and teamwork. Notebooks, projectors and internet infrastructure are aimed to provide for the six hundred thousand classes of all the schools in preschools, primary-elementary and high schools to ensure equality of opportunity, amend the technology in schools and make it possible to use more effective use of CT media in teaching-learning process, which will address more senses. The studies on the issue are still continuing. This study is based on qualitative research methods and techniques in which scanning model is used. The actual case has been presented by doing examinations on FATIH project, Turkish education system, teaching strategies used, e-learning and management information systems and a study is executed on teaching strategies of FATIH project in the light of this information

Smartphone Perception and Experiences of Teacher Candidates During Covid 19 Process: What is My Smartphone for Me?

The purpose of this study is to reveal the experiences of the teacher candidates about their personal phones, their phone usage situations and their perceptions about their smartphones during the Covid-19 process. The mixed method procedure was followed in the study. In the quantitative dimension, the survey model was used in order to reveal the smartphone usage status of the teacher candidates, while in the qualitative dimension, the phenomenology model was used to determine their perceptions about the smartphone. The sample of the study consisted of 45 teacher candidates studying in the faculty of education at a state university located in Turkey's Aegean region during the 2020-2021 fall semester. The data of the study were collected by the researcher with a questionnaire form created by taking the literature review and expert opinion. The quantitative data collected within the scope of the research were subjected to statistical analysis. The metaphors collected in qualitative dimension were analyzed with content analysis. Research findings indicated that the teacher candidates were generally aware of the technical features of their personal phones. On the other hand, it has been determined that they are indecisive in controlling themselves about their phone usage, being dependent on their phones and being aware of their phone time. It has been observed that the teacher candidates produced metaphors for their smart phones that point to the themes of “addiction, functionality, correct use, having a happy time, socialization/communication and other.” It can be said that the research is important in terms of providing researchers and decision makers with new perspectives on the smartphone perception and experiences of teacher candidates in the Covid-19 process

Social Studies Teacher Candidates’ Self-Efficacy Beliefs for Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)

This study aims at examining social studies teacher candidates’ self-efficacy beliefs for technological pedagogical content knowledge through multiple variables and presenting new perspectives for researchers and practitioners. A causal-comparative research design was adopted for this study. Among non-random sampling methods, convenience sampling was used to select participants. The sample of the study consists of 349 3rd and 4th year college students (teacher candidates) studying at three state universities in Turkey’s Central Anatolia Region in the 2018–2019 academic year. The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) scale was used for collecting data in this study. T-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to analyze data. According to the obtained results, the social studies teacher candidates’ self-efficacy beliefs for technological pedagogical content knowledge can be considered above average. No significant differences were found between participants’ self-efficacy beliefs for TPACK and some independent variables such as gender, year in college, GPA score, personal computer ownership, and Instructional Technology and Material Development course score. On the other hand, it was determined that perceived technology competency and the use of content sharing platforms for professional purposes were important predictors for social studies teacher candidates’ self-efficacy beliefs about TPACK

Teaching social studies with mind and intelligence games: A study of teacher candidates’ views and experience

The mind and intelligence games can be used as an effective instrument for teaching some skills included in the social studies curriculum such as historical empathy, thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills. Teacher candidates were both excited and concerned about using mind and intelligence games for social studies education. To increase the professional self-confidence of social studies teachers, in-service teacher training can be enriched with workshop activities on mind game training and practices. Purpose: The study aims at analyzing teacher candidates’ experience and views about the use of mind and intelligence games in social studies courses. Design/methodology/approach: The basic qualitative design was used in this paper. Data were obtained during the 2016-2017 academic year from 12 4th year college students studying social studies teacher education in a university located in Turkey. A two-week (16 hours) workshop program on 21 different mind and intelligence games of different genres was given to the teacher candidates. Dataset were analyzed regarding the usability of mind and intelligence games in social studies education. Findings: The obtained results showed that although mind and intelligence games offer important contributions to teaching social studies, there may be some difficulties. Practical implications: University administrators may organise in-service training programs for instructors on mind and intelligence games as implementing them in courses may increase learner satisfaction and contribute to a more positive classroom environment