The effect of social network-supported microteaching on teachers self-efficacy and teaching skills

The three essential elements of an effective instructional environment are the students, the curriculum and the teacher. The teacher, on the other hand is the glue that combines these items. To train qualified teachers, it is important to use methods that employ theory and practice together in teacher education. In order for microteaching, one of these methods, to be more effective, supporting it with online environments such as social networks may be beneficial. In this respect, this study aims to find out the effects of Social Network-Supported Microteaching (SNSM) on self-efficacy and teaching skills of pre-service teachers. The study was conducted using mixed research model. The participants of the research are 17 pre-service teachers from the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology. Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale (TSES) and Open-Ended Interview Questionnaire (OEIQ) developed by researchers were used for data collection. The SNSM process took place in two stages. Pre-service teachers were asked to respond to Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale prior to SNSM, at the end of the first stage and subsequent to the SNSM. Following SNSM, through the open-ended interview questionnaire, opinions of the pre-service teachers were received and the data on the effect of SNSM on teaching skills were collected. Following the collection of data, quantitative and qualitative data were analysed. Consequently, quantitative results indicated that SNSM increased teacher self-efficacy levels in terms of student engagement, classroom management and teaching methods. Qualitative data was in support of quantitative data, and pre-service teachers have expressly stated that SNSM has improved their teaching skills

Technology management activities and tools: the practice in Turkey

The diffusion of management techniques is as difficult as the diffusion of technologies. This paper aims to find out how technology management is perceived and utilized in Turkish firms. The research is based on a survey that consists of 89 company responses out of the biggest 500 firms in the Turkish industry. The investigation consists of 1) the degree of diffusion in terms of technology management activities such as technology planning as well as 2) the techniques and tools used in technology management such as simulation. The literature review indicates 11 technology management activities ranging from strategy to utilization and 36 technology management techniques / tools. The results show that Turkish managers try to utilize technologies rather than creating them and they use 11 techniques more often than others and many important tools such as technology life cycle are not diffused yet. The paper ends with a discussion of findings

VALIDATION IN SOFT OR, HARD OR AND SYSTEM DYNAMICS: A CRITICAL COMPARISON AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEBATE

This paper deals with the validation ideas of three fields, namely hard OR, soft OR, and system dynamics. Validation is an important, yet a very controversial, issue on model based fields. Even though everyone seems to agree that the validation of models must be assessed, the viewpoints on what validation is and how it should be established differ widely. The purpose of this paper is to (a) describe the similarities and differences (both within and between) the three fields (b) to provide explanations for the differences, in order to (c) create mutual awareness and understanding, and (d) to increase our understanding of the issues surrounding validation. We will first start with the validation opinions of the three fields and then describe and explain the differences in these opinions and their reasons