Open Journal for Educational Research

117-128

Authors: Hasan Hüseyin Kılınç & Tuğba Andaş

This study aims to evaluate the views of preschool teachers about values education and activities in the preschool education program. Phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the research. The study group of our research consists of 15 pre-school teachers working in Nevşehir, Turkey. The data of the study were collected with semi-structured interview and analyzed by content analysis. The result of the research demonstrates that the teachers evaluated the values education in five main categories as “creating the foundation”, “educational process”, “behavior”, “responsibility” and “rules”. Some participants found the values education in the pre-school curriculum sufficient. The values that children learn most easily are love, respect, responsibility, tolerance, sharing, honesty and cooperation. In classroom practices, it was concluded that they generally teach the concepts of values education by using visual materials. The majority of the teachers participating in the research suggested that there should be cooperation with the family, teacher, school and environment regarding the values education in the pre-school education program. They also suggested that extra-class activities should be included in the program, in-service training, material support and practical activities should be given more time.

139-154

Authors: Sevgül Çaliş & N. Remziye Ergül

This research aims to determine the opinions of high school students about the Physics and Chemistry courses during the distance education due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 88 students who study in two public schools in Bursa were included in the research by determining through purposive sampling. In the research, we used a special case research design, one of the qualitative research methods, and semi-structured documents containing six open-ended questions we created as a data collection tool. When evaluating the data obtained using content analysis, we found that most participants stated they had difficulties in the problem-solving process in physics and chemistry and could not conduct an experiment. In addition, students talked about the advantages of taking these courses with distance education, such as listening comfortably in a quiet home environment, getting individual education, time to review the lesson, discipline, health, and economy. They also mentioned the disadvantages as not being able to focus on the lesson, not understanding the courses, experiencing internet and technical problems, and not socializing.

165-172

Authors: Asli Koculu, Mustafa Sami Topcu & Ayse Ciftci

In the globalizing world, individuals should be educated well-qualified to be effective citizens and workers by adapting the information society of the 21st century. At this point, STEM education is considered to promote the construction and improvement of 21st century skills and competences needed for individuals’ living in today’s world. In light of this consideration, the purpose of the current research is to examine the effect of STEM education on pre-service science teachers’ (PSTs) perceptions of 21st century skills and competences and problem solving skills. In this research, a one group pre- and post-test design was conducted. The participants of the current study were 26 PSTs at a public university. The data of the study were collected with “21st Century Skills and Competences Scale” and “Problem Solving Inventory”. In the data analysis, the paired sample t test was used. Findings revealed that there is a statistically significant difference among pre- and post-test total and sub-factors scores of PSTs’ perceptions of both 21st century skills and competences and problem solving skills in favor of the post-test scores. These results suggest that STEM education have a potential to improve PSTs’ perceptions of 21st century skills and competences and problem solving skills.