Identifying the Problems Experienced by Parents of Children with Special Needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aims to determine the problems experienced by parents of children with special needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The phenomenological patterns technique, which is a qualitative research method, was used in the study. Ten parents with children with special needs who were affected by different types of disabilities were included in the study. The data in the research were collected using interview forms consisting of open-ended questions and a semi-structured interview technique. After the data obtained from the interviews were decoded, they were analyzed with the descriptive analysis technique. At the end of the study, the findings of the problems experienced by parents of children with special needs during the epidemic, the problems they experienced with their children, and the problems and expectations related to the education of their children were discussed in detail within the framework of the literature.

Intellectual Structure of Mobile Learning Field: Bibliometric Evidence from Turkey (2006-2020)

The aim of present study is to examine the intellectual structure of the reference lists of postgraduate theses on mobile learning in Turkey. In this research, 88 postgraduate theses indexed in the National Thesis Center of the Council of Higher Education were examined. According to the obtained findings, it was determined that the most theses were conducted in 2019. The average number of pages and citations of doctoral theses is higher than that of master’s theses. The supervisors of the master’s theses are mostly Assistant professors while the advisors of doctoral theses are mostly Associate professors and Professors. In both master’s and doctoral theses, citations to journal articles are more common. The most cited journals in master’s theses were Computers and Education, Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, British Journal of Educational Technology. The most cited journals in doctoral theses were Computers and Education and British Journal of Educational Technology. Agnes Kukulska-Hulme and John Traxler’s book Mobile Learning: A Handbook for Educators and Trainers is the most cited book in master's theses. Mohamed Ally’s book Mobile Learning: Transforming the Delivery of Education and Training comes first in doctoral dissertations. Mike Sharples has been the most cited author in both types of postgraduate theses.

Applications of Tulip Motif in Turkish Art with Geometer’s Sketchpad Program

In the 21st century we live in, technology is developing rapidly. Inevitably, the technologies used in almost every area of daily life will also reflect in the field of education. Educational technologies, which enable students to grasp abstract concepts more easily and facilitate the teaching process for teachers, have increased their impact in schools. The effects of dynamic geometry software on course success, attractiveness, and concretization in mind have been the subject of different studies. Dynamic geometry software that can visualize algebraic expressions with graphics creates an interdisciplinary working environment with its drawing features. Thanks to Geometer’s Sketchpad (GSP), one of this software, students can dynamically create very different patterns and shapes. Students can realize higher-level cognitive learning thanks to the relationships and inferences they make on these shapes. These and similar patterns that emerged thanks to GSP can increase students’ awareness in different fields by combining different disciplines such as history, mathematics and art. In this study, the drawing stages of the tulip motif, which we come across in important architectural works in the Ottoman and Anatolian Seljuk history, which have been the subject of ornament art, are shown via GSP using both the transformation geometry and functions.

Speaking Anxiety of Students Learning Turkish as a Foreign Language: Instructors’ Experiences

The purpose of present research is to examine the speaking anxiety observed by the instructors in their students in teaching Turkish as a foreign language settings. For this aim, phenomenology, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. The participants of the research are the instructors working in the Turkish teaching centers of various state universities who were reached through the snowball sampling technique. A semi-structured interview was used to collect the data from these tutorials. To analyze the data a content analysis technique with MAXQDA 2020 program was utilized. Instructors of Turkish as a foreign language stated that material and instructor proficiency are the most common factors in foreign language teaching, while motivation, attitude and anxiety are the most common internal factors. According to the results of the study, speaking is the language skill most affected by anxiety. It was concluded that the most common causes of speaking anxiety experienced by the students were the fear of being ridiculed, the thought of failure, and the lack of personal development. Instructors think that speaking anxiety occurs mostly with a shy attitude while speaking. In addition, the instructors stated that they took various measures to solve this situation in their students who they thought had speaking anxiety. These are mostly creating a flexible and relaxing learning environment, applying interesting activities, and allocating special time for the student.

Examination of the Correlation Between 8th grade Students’ Cyber Bully/Victim Behaviors and their Self-confidence Values

In the study, the correlation between cyberbullying and cyber victimization, which is included in the digital literacy skill in the Social Studies Curriculum, and self-confidence value was examined. From this point of view, the research aims to determine the degree and direction of the correlation between 8th grade students cyberbully/victim behaviors and their self-confidence value. As a data collection tool; The CyberBully/Victim Scale developed by Ayas and Horzum (2010); The Self-Confidence Scale developed by Akin (2007), and the Personal Information Form developed by the researcher were used to access personal information. The research sample consists of a total of 455 students studying at the 8th grade of public and private schools in the Nilufer, Yildirim, and Kestel districts of Bursa. Spearman’s Rho Correlation analysis was used in the analysis of the data. As a result of the study, a statistically significant moderate-level inverse correlation was found between students cyberbully/victim status and their tendency levels of self-confidence.

Exploring the Effect of STEM Education on the Motivations and Epistemological Beliefs Related to Science Among Talented and Gifted Students

The research is aimed to explore the effect of STEM education on the motivations and epistemological beliefs related to science among talented and gifted students. A mixed research method was employed in collecting the data of the research. The sample of the research consisted of 20 5th and 6th grade students who were diagnosed to be talented. Before the activities, the Epistemological Beliefs Questionnaire and the Motivation Scale for Science Learning were applied to the students. The reflective journals were asked to fill in reflective journals after each activity and individual interviews were conducted after all activities were completed. A significant difference was found between the Epistemological Beliefs Questionnaire and the Motivation Scale for Science Learning pre-test and post-test scores at the end of the research. With the conducted interviews and results from the journals, positive changes were observed in students’ self-confidence, motivation, and attitudes towards science lessons in training.

Examination of Turkish Language Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Perceptions of Teaching Thinking Skills in Terms of Various Variables

The aim of this study was to examine Turkish Language teachers’ self-efficacy perceptions of teaching thinking skills in terms of the variables of age, professional experience, educational status, and taking course on thinking skills. The screening model was used in the study. The current pandemic process was taken into account and the convenience sampling method was used while determining the study group. Turkish Language teachers forming the study group consisted of 109 females and 68 males. “Teachers’ Self-efficacy towards teaching thinking scale” was used as the data collection tool. The data of the study were analyzed using the statistical package program. In conclusion, no significant difference was found between the Turkish Language teachers’ self-efficacy perceptions of teaching thinking skills and gender. It was concluded that Turkish Language teachers’ self-efficacy perceptions of teaching thinking skills differed according to professional experience. It was concluded that there was no significant difference between Turkish Language teachers’ self-efficacy perceptions of teaching thinking skills and their educational status. It was concluded that there was a significant difference between Turkish Language teachers’ self-efficacy perceptions of teaching thinking skills and taking course on thinking skills.

The Effects of Educational Videos on Views and Attitudes of Engineering Undergraduate Students

The usage of videos in undergraduate students’ engineering education has gained importance in recent years. Videos, which are used as a supportive tool in traditional engineering education, have become a source of information in online learning environments. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of educational videos on engineering undergraduate students’ laboratory applications and its examination of opinions developed within the scope of e-learning. For this purpose, the sample consisting of 50 undergraduate students from the civil engineering department has been used for this research. Pre-test and post-test process conducted within the scope of in this research were resulted in a meaningful difference after the analyses of Paired Samples t-Test (p=0.02) was made. This result shows that online learning platforms in engineering education and educational videos positively affect the students’ attitude. In addition, it is found out that educational videos affect the learning process as a useful educational source. Moreover, the instructors’ educational videos, which are Digital Learning Materials, positively impact the students’ motivation during the courses.

Early Mathematics Learners’ Numerical Errors: Consequence of Poor Learners’ Comprehension and Teachers’ Instructions

While the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still considered as a pandemic in recent human history, evidence from World Health Organization (2021) so far has recorded a total of 116,521,281 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 2,589,548 as a total of deaths from over 215 countries or territories worldwide. Recognizing that COVID-19 is not only pandemic since March 11, 2020, but spreading worldwide at unprecedented rate, number of sectors including schools and universities as a measure to minimize person-to-person transmission closed their services. Such an uncertain closure warranted restructuring of services provided by schools and universities. The challenges therefore have necessitated the current research to investigate and alleviate challenges brought about by the COVID-19. In essence, the present research’s aim was to report on early mathematics learners (foundation phase) numerical errors, which is as a consequence of poor learners’ comprehension and teachers’ instructions. Based on the aim, the study was positioned within a cognitive theory in order to examine processing of numerical competence among early mathematics learners. A case study via 80 grade 3 learners with ages 8 and 9 was sampled. A textual analysis was used in unpacking and de-contextualizing processing of numerical competence by early mathematics learners. The evidence revealed learners’ mathematical mistakes were caused from limited reading skills and ill-presented problems via teachers. Due to the need to teach children at home (home school) due to the COVID-19, it is hoped that the findings thus assist audience, including non-academic and parents, who grapple with poor instructions coupled with poor learners’ comprehension.

Examining the Relation between Social Support Level, Family Indomitableness Level and Life Satisfaction Levels Perceived by Parents with Disabled Children

In the present study, the purpose was to examine the relation between the social support levels, family indomitableness levels and the life satisfaction levels perceived by parents of children with disabilities. The Descriptive-Correlational Research Model was used as the model in the study. The parents of 231 children with disabilities participated in the study. The Pearson Correlation Analysis and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis were made for the analyses of the data. According to the study results, a positive correlation was detected between the perceived social support levels, family indomitableness, and life satisfaction. It was determined that the perceived social support levels and family indomitableness explained 40% (R2) of life satisfaction.