Evaluation of preservice teachers' opinions about gaining science and technology special area competencies in teacher training programs

Abstract

With implementation of new curricula by Ministry of National Education, new definitions have determined related to Science and Technology teachers' competencies. Ministry of National Education is planning to carry out the vision of Science and Technology program with all the teachers who have these competencies. As a natural result of this, it is aimed to educate preservice science and technology teachers as having these competencies in education faculties of universities. In this study, it is aimed to determine preservice science and technology teachers' ideas about effect of courses, they attended during their undergraduate education, on their special area. For this reason, the question "Is there any difference between the courses preservice teachers attended during their undergraduate education and their perceptions of Science and Technology teachers' special area competencies, in terms of gender, academic achievement, place of residence and use of computer?" was investigated. The research sample was 213 senior preservice teachers at state universities, Science and Technology Education Departments located in three different cities. In this study, "Preservice Teachers' Opinions About Special Area Competencies of Science and Technology Teacher Survey", developed by researchers, was applied to preservice teacher to find their ideas. The survey consists of 24 items, and reliability was found.92. Data obtained from this study was carried out by means of SPSS program. It was found that preservice teachers' ideas about speacial area related with courses they attended in education faculty did not change in terms of gender and use of computer. However, these opinions showed significant differences in terms of academic achievement and technology knowledge and skills.