This study, which was conducted in the department of “Secondary Science and Mathematics Education” in the Faculty of Education at Hacettepe University in spring semester of 212-2013 and 2013-2014 academic years, aims to explore attitudes of 30 pre-service teachers towards micro teaching sessions. This study reports a micro teaching practice done with 30 student teachers attending the biology education department of Hacettepe University during the spring semesters of the academic years of 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. The goal of the micro teaching is to provide the student teachers with the opportunity to practice the teaching skills and to evaluate themselves concerning these skills before their future roles as teachers. In the study, the participants were asked to comment on the micro teaching practice in terms of positive and negative sides of it, its difficulty, and the gains of it. The data of the study were collected through a form with eleven open-ended items and were analyzed through descriptive analysis method. The data were discussed based on quotations from the reports of the participants. The findings obtained showed that the micro teaching practice is useful for student teachers to reduce their deficiency in teaching skills and to have much more positive attitudes towards their future profession.

Keywords: Biology education, micro teaching, teacher education
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The aim of this study is to determine the mother tongue proficiency in 5-6-year-old children in pre-school education. The corpus consists of the responses of pre-school students to different questions asked by their teachers (n=25) at a kindergarten in Ankara in the academic year 2011-2012. As some students were not in class and some did not answer the questions at the time of the inquiry, each question was evaluated in accordance with the number of students who responded the questions. Responses to 8 questions were examined within the frame of linguistic and conceptual knowledge. We observed that the students' answers to the questions were usually personal and based on the knowledge acquired from their families, environment, school and the television. It was found that the answers shared some common concepts stemming from the fact that the learners are in the same age group. Some differences were also remarked related to the learners’ imaginative power, creativity, and gender.

Keywords: Pre-school education, language acquisition, expression skills, mother tongue
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The theory’s not being connected strong enough with practice in teacher education makes searching for alternative policies which can remove this deficiency in teacher education essential. Research-Based Teacher Education Policy (R-BTEP) is among the alternative education policies which are able to solve this problem. The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of teachers on R-BTEP including the knowledge domains of clinical based approach as a teacher education policy. Qualitative research techniques were used in the study designed using phenomenological pattern. The study was conducted with 14 teachers working at primary and secondary schools in the province of Gaziantep. Data of the study were collected using semi-structured interview technique. Data which were gathered from interviews were analyzed by using content analysis. It is concluded that the skills of structuring teaching settings are required to be gained based on the results which are gained by collecting and analyzing student data in teacher education once the results are evaluated broadly. It is suggested that the classes of research methods should be given more importance in teacher education and the cooperation between university and practice schools should be arranged in a more effective way in accordance with the results of the study.

Keywords: Teacher education policy, research-based teacher education, clinical approach in teacher education
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This study aims to investigate to what extent the learning activities to cultivate disciplined minds are included in teaching and learning environment of 7th grade science and technology course. The study employed purposeful sampling technique (maximum variation) to select the study sample. It was carried out in three schools located in the central districts of the city of Ankara which were divided into three groups according to their success (low, middle, and high) during the fall term of 2012-2013 academic year. In order to collect data, teaching and learning environment assessment scale (α=0.93) and observation form were used. The results of the study revealed that (1) when the teaching and learning environments among low, mid and high-level schools were compared, there wasn’t a significant difference in terms of cultivating the traits of disciplined mind, (2) when the teaching and learning environments among the three classrooms selected from low, mid and high-level schools were compared in terms of cultivating the traits of disciplined mind, a significant difference was found. The results of the study are considered to be important in terms of making necessary arrangements to reduce the discrepancies caused by teaching and learning environments in terms of cultivating disciplined minds.

Keywords: Five minds, disciplined mind, science, secondary school, seventh grade
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Educational professionals mostly face impediments in initial teachers training. There are factors contributing to the impediments educational professionals face in initial teacher training. This study aims at identifying perceptions of educational professionals regarding the factors and frequency of these factors impeding educational professionals in initial teacher training in Northern Cyprus. The study adopted an interpretive methodology under qualitative research paradigm. Phenomology was adapted as the research design. Data were collected using field diaries, focus group interviews and in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed through content analysis method. The researcher kept the field diaries. Focus group members were 15 educational experts. Educational professionals were 67 professionals teaching/serving in the education field. Findings revealed themes on opportunities educational professionals were provided, on impediments regarding researching options, on impediments regarding communication and collaboration, on impediments regarding supervising teachers and on impediments regarding mentoring system in public schools as well as the frequency of these impediments according to the perceptions of educational professionals. As a result, initial teacher training should be improved; research opportunities should become better; efficient communication and collaboration should be provided among educational professionals; importance of supervision should be emphasized; mentoring system should be arranged as a system including teacher-academician-supervisor tricycle and academic mentoring system should be adopted.

Keywords: Educational professionals, impediments, initial teacher training.
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The purpose of this study is to investigate first-year teacher candidates’ entry characteristics, their attitude towards teaching, and factors affecting their attitude. This is a quantitative study and survey design was used in the study. The sample of the study consisted of 312 first-year teacher candidates enrolled to various teaching departments in a faculty of education in Turkey. A questionnaire, having three parts, was prepared and used by the researchers to collect data. The quantitative data obtained through the questionnaire were analyzed using both descriptive (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Simple Linear Regression) based on the research questions. The results of the study suggested important findings in relation to the entry characteristics of teacher candidates. According to the findings of the study, gender, department, desire to be a teacher, satisfaction from department, satisfaction from conditions of the country, and general life satisfaction were found to be significant factors affecting candidates’ attitude towards teaching. On the other hand, mother and father education, type of high school, and having a teacher in the family were non-significant factors. It is crucial to know entering teacher candidates’ characteristics, their attitude towards teaching, and the factors affecting their attitude, since the decision makers and academicians working in the field of teacher education might take better and more appropriate decisions benefiting from these results in relation to student selection, content of the programs, and instruction.

Keywords: Teacher candidates, entry characteristics, attitude towards teaching, teacher education programs.
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Cost of education is one of the factors determining higher education demand. In public universities no tuition policy means that tuition costs are subsidized by government budget. Equal or no tuition and equal support policy makes direct observations on sensitiveness of student teachers' demand to changes in tuition and support levels very difficult. In this study, subjective data were analyzed in order to understand how the cost factors were effective on student teachers' school choice behaviors. It is found that students' school choices were highly sensitive to changes in tuition and support levels, depending on their opinions. It is argued that no tuition and equal support policy does not ameliorate inequality in higher education demand, but may even worsens it. More equitable financing schemes in which more income sensitive supports, more income tax dependent public budgets for subsidy, and income contingent loan programs which favor lower income graduates for repayment are recommended.

Keywords: Higher education demand, tuition, support, student teachers, financing of higher education.
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This study aimed to investigate the criteria for assigning the practice teachers who are to supervise the senior prospective teachers during school experience and practice courses; the problems faced during the process; and suggestions for improving the assignment process. The study was designed as a case study. The case studied was specified as the ‘assignment process of practice teachers for school experience and practice courses conducted at faculty of education”. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with one university coordinator and two assistant coordinators currently taking active part in the process, two former university coordinators successively served since 2005, current coordinator of provincial directorate general of national education, four school principals taking active role in the assignment process, and seven teachers. The results of the study revealed certain criteria used for assigning practice teachers [e.g. Informal feedback from students and faculty mentors, Informal views of school and university coordinators], the problems faced during the process [e.g. Making assignments disregarding the school administration, Creating a feeling of injustice among teachers], and suggestions by the participants about the assignment process [e.g. Cooperation and coordination between institutions (among province, school, department and university coordinators), assignment based on the practice teacher’s performance].

Keywords: School experience, teaching practice, practice teachers, prospective teachers
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Special education departments are one of the departments that were formed after the establishment of educational faculties. Since the programs were renewed first in 1997 and then in 2006, reconsidering the programs in these days is a requirement. The foundation for the change could be discussed in an extended manner. This study was conducted to set a functional approach for the discussions. Special education teachers were asked to make their contributions to the discussion for change by exhibiting their ideas about what should be changed, what not changed. Qualitative research approach was applied to this study. The forms which were sent to teachers were analysed by using content analysis method. The teachers showed tendecy to keep the course directly related to practice, but ignored the courses which does not show direct relationship to the pratice. Also, the data revealed that how teachers’ perspectives were affected by the departments they are graduated from.

Keywords: Teacher training, curriculum change, special education.
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This study aims to investigate in what direction teachers canditates' perceptions related to history concepts and metaphors which illustrate these perceptions. It was designed as a descriptive quantitative research comprising of 152 undergraduate students. The research data was collected from those undergraduates registered in history education department (4th and 5th grades) and social studies department (4th grade) of Gazi University in 2012-2013 academic year through “Metaphors Student Survey Towards History Concepts” developed by researchers. According to research findings perceptions of participants is low towards democracy and it was expressed that “wars” carries a feature which it can spread and all the sections of society suffers in the wars. It is perceived as a utopia which the impossibility of a world where “peace” is established; “Revolution” causes social collapse creating an atmosphere of chaos and uncertainty. Extreme “sovereignty” damage as well as those established dominance in the prevailing. “Time" continues the fast or unnoticed. It was found that perceptions related to the concept of “state” have focused (on the grounds that both the absolute authority) on the metaphor of father.

Keywords: Social studies teacher candidates, history teacher candidates, history teaching concepts, qualitative research, metaphor.
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The effective implementations of education policies and qualified human resources that will contribute to the growth of the national economy are closely related to the policies of the employment of teachers. In Turkey, procedures for the appointment of teachers are determined with the decisions taken by the National Board of Education of Ministry of Education. In this study, historical development of the teacher appointments’ applications and higher education programs that are the source of the teaching profession are examined. For this purpose, decision documents of teacher appointments prepared by National Board of Education (from 1990 to present) were analyzed. The main seven decision texts and 24 interim decision texts were also analyzed within this study. Analyses were made in accordance with the research problems related to the subjects of the teacher appointments. In this way, chronological developments that are related to the subjects to be answered are presented and in what way the applications for teacher appointments have changed since 1990 are revealed. In addition, the developments for the programs of higher education are determined in order to show the changes in terms of faculty.

Keywords: Teacher appointment, National Board of Education, teacher employment, policies of teacher appointment
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Increased number of preventive intervention programs lead to some difficulties to decide which program is the most appropriate one to meet children’s primary needs. For this reason more studies are needed to determine which aspects of the programs are well equipped and effectively designed by revealing common and different features between those. The goal of this article is pointed out by theoretical and practical improvement in the area of interventive prevention science. In this context commonly used and scientifically proved preventive intervention programs in early childhood are discussed in terms of their contents, philosophies, educational processes and efficiencies based on common features and differences to evaluate their effectiveness. By doing this, it would be possible to use more effective strategies by selecting appropriate programs to prevent or remove risky behaviors in different dimensions. Additionally, revealing basic features of preventive intervention programs would provide perspective for a completed integration between school-based prevention programs. In this sense this article would be expected to make an important contribution in developing or restructuring of preventive programs considering Turkish culture which is needed to be implemented based on difficulties and challenges in Turkish society.

Keywords: Early childhood period, preventive intervention programs, social competence, problem solving skills
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In today’s world, many young people are disconnected from the natural world. One way to promote constructive engagements with nature has been for learning to take place in local environments, including school grounds, neighborhoods, and community parks. This process, often called place-based education, utilizes many field study techniques including nature journaling. Keeping a journal helps students observe their local environments more in-depth by identifying relationships among living and non-living things and building an appreciation about and for one’s “place.” Providing students with models and guidelines can help them keep a meaningful and useful journal. To identify some best practices for keeping a journal, this study compared writing strategies employed by famous conservationists from the recent history of two different countries. While the writings of Aldo Leopold—the conservationist from the United States—have been used for many years to promote a “Land Ethic,” Hikmet Birand’s work—the conservationist from Turkey—has yet to be used to its full potential for environmental education. Through a content analysis, a framework of five writing themes was created to showcase the attributes and writing intentions of these scientists. The article concludes with recommendations for using the framework to help promote place-based nature journaling into the Turkish national curriculum.

Keywords: Place-based education, nature journaling, writing strategies
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The aim of this study is to determine the extent to which the need of professional development, participating in professional development activities (conference, seminar, certification program etc.) and the effect levels of these activities, time allocated for professional development and the number of days teachers participate in compulsory professional development activities classify correctly. Korea showing a high level of success, Denmark showing a moderate level of success and Turkey showing a low level of success in PISA. With this aspect, the study has a relational characteristic. The data of the study were gained by compiling TALIS 2008 teacher survey. To solve the problem of the study determined within the scope of the study, accuracy levels of variables emphasized above in classifying countries were determined through discriminant analysis method. According to findings, independent variable contributing to accurate classification of countries most is “the need of professional development” (.81). It is followed by “time allocated for professional development” (.47), “the effect level of professional development activities” (-.26), “participating in professional development activities” (.24) and “the number of days teachers participate in compulsory professional development activities” (.20) respectively. The percentage of accurate classification of discriminant function is 67.8 %.Based on the results, it can be suggested that Turkey should concentrate on the professional development activities embedded in the working day and should realize the professional development activities making teachers active and feel the need of development to be volunteer for participating in.

Keywords: professional teacher, Professional development activities, TALIS, discriminant analysis.
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The aim of this study was to examine the views of first year university students that enrolled compulsory in the faculty of science and literature but who wish to study in faculties of education about field education and teaching profession. This study used a phenomenological design in order to obtain rich data on a particular case. A total of 59 students who enrolled in Gazi University Faculty of Science and Literature were selected for the study using criterion sampling and typical sampling. According to results of the study a significant proportion of the participants stated that pedagogical training can be better performed in faculty of education and field training can be better performed in faculty of sciences and literature. A large proportion of respondents perceived teaching as a respectable profession, but draw attention to the uncertainty of current teacher employment policy. Participants have a dilemma on faculty of science and literature is the only way for teacher training, that their perceptions on this issue containing both an opportunity for their faculty and a threat about restricting individual choices. Some suggestions we presented in the light of the results such as, developing the curriculum of faculty of education, improving the collaboration between Ministry of National Education (MoNE) and Council of Higher Education (CHE) in order to prevent the problems in teacher employment and encouraging the faculty of education and faculty of science and literature for performing better field education.

Keywords: Teacher training, teaching profession, faculty of science and literature
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This study has two basic purposes. First of all, the study was carried out to develop a valid and reliable scale to determine the elementary and high school students’ purpose of social media use. The secondary purpose was to examine the students’ purposes of social media use in terms of certain variables (gender, age, level of education, school type, Internet use time and Internet use duration). The study was conducted with 388 students from elementary and high schools in the city of Eskişehir in the academic year of 2011-2012. For data collection, the scale for social media use purposes developed by the researcher and personal information form were used. As a result, a 12-item valid and reliable scale with two dimensions (interaction between individuals and preparation for the course) was developed. Based on the research findings, it was revealed that the students’ purposes of social media use differed in both dimensions with respect to the variables of Internet use time and school type. In addition, it was also found out that there were differences in the dimension of interaction between individuals with respect to gender and daily and weekly Internet use durations as well as in the dimension of preparation for the course with respect to the participants’ age and level of education. In line with the findings obtained, usability of social media in the teaching-learning process was discussed, and several related suggestions were put forward.

Keywords: Social media, purposes of social media use, elementary school, high school, student
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The purpose of this study is to investigate the learning strategies that affect reading literacy of 15-year-old Turkish students in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Elaboration, control, and memorization strategies are defined as learning strategies. These variables are used to conduct structural equation modeling. In the study, the designed model’s goodness of fit indexes are good enough according to standard values of fit indexes. According to research results, all the relations between elaboration, control, and memorization strategies and reading literacy are meaningful. The findings of the study indicate that 30% of the reading literacy could be explained by these observed variables.

Keywords: Programme for international student assessment (PISA), reading literacy, learning strategies, structural equation modeling (SEM)
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This study examines foreign language prospective teachers’ levels of anxiety in their professional field in terms of a number of variables. In line with purpose of the study the research population was composed of students attending the Foreign Languages Education Department (that is to say, German Language Teaching, French Language Teaching, and English Language Teaching sections) of Gazi Faculty of Education of Gazi University. The research data were collected via personal information form in addition to the “Prospective Teachers’ Anxiety Scale” developed by the researcher. The data were then put to analysis on the SPSS 16 statistical package programme, and having interpreted the findings, attempts were made to determine the prospective German, French and English teachers’ levels of anxiety in terms of “anxiety domains” (self-centred, task centred and student-centred anxiety). The numerical data obtained were interpreted in the conclusions part. Prospective teachers’ professional concerns were analysed on the basis of such variables as gender, age, and the branch of study (section); and it was found whether or not there were any significant differences on the basis of those variables.

Keywords: Foreign language, professional concern, teacher candidate, anxiety level
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