The global COVID-19 outbreak has caused an anxious situation in every part of society and forced many countries to implement distance education programs without even knowing the fundamental components involved in the processes and the consequences of their decisions. Likewise, in Turkey, it is still uncertain as to what will be taught, what instructional technologies will be employed, how infrastructural inequalities will be addressed, and how assessment and evaluation activities will be conducted. In this context, the purpose of this study was (a) to examine the experiences and opinions of academics, Distance Education Center managers, students, and parents and (b) offer solutions to emerging issues. In doing so, a qualitative research approach was employed, and the study was designed as a phenomenology. The data were collected from 175 individuals from 20 universities through Google Forms. The second cycle coding methods were employed in the analysis. The results indicated that COVID-19 had mostly psychological effects on individuals, and it affected every level of education at varying degrees. The pandemic reminded us how hopelessly we are dependent on traditional means of instruction by rendering us unable to use them. Since the beginning of the outbreak, many higher education institutions have been trying to implement distance education; however, the quality of instruction is rather questionable. This situation threatens the quality of learning outcomes and if not approached with due diligence, results could be catastrophic. Also, this mandatory transition to distance education has made the difference between the experienced and inexperienced academics more apparent. In light of the results, recommendations were provided for national and international policymakers. As long as the recommendations were implemented, all higher education stakeholders could attain the required knowledge and skills, and, in return, the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could be alleviated.

Öz.Bu araştırmanın amacı belirlenen resmi anaokullarında bulunan okul iklimlerini belirlemek, okul iklimini etkileyen unsurları incelemek, okul ikliminin eğitim-öğretim hizmetlerine olan yansımalarını irdelemek, öğretmen ve yöneticilerin görüşleriyle okul ikliminin iyileştirilmesi için gerekli unsurları ortaya koymaktır. Bu araştırmada nicel ve nitel olmak üzere iki aşamada gerçekleştirilen karma yöntem türlerinden kısmen karma ardışık baskın statülü desen kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın ilk aşamasında Eskişehir ilinde aktif faaliyet gösteren 18 bağımsız anaokulunda görev yapmakta olan 115 öğretmen ve 34 okul yöneticisine toplamda 145 kişiye Örgütsel İklim Ölçeği uygulanarak çalışma iklimleri belirlenmiştir. Çalışmanın ikinci aşamasında; ölçekten en yüksek ve en düşük iklim puanını alan iki okulun yönetici ve öğretmenleriyle görüşülerek iki aşırı uçta yer alan kurumların okul iklimindeki farklılıkları ve bu farklılıkları oluşturan etkenler incelenmiş aynı zamanda bu kurumlardaki iklimin eğitim-öğretim hizmetlerine yansımaları irdelenmiştir. Sağlıklı okul ikliminin oluşumunda yöneticinin kişilik özellikleri, yöneticinin iletişim ve problem çözme becerileri, öğretmenlere verilen destek, övgü ve cesaretlendirme, adil davranışlar, fikirlere açık olma, kararlarda personelden görüş alma gibi özelliklerin önemli olduğu görülmüştür. Tüm personelin önyargısız ve açık iletişimde bulunması, öğretmenlerin işbirlikçi, paylaşımcı ve sorumluk sahibi olmalarının da sağlıklı iklimin oluşumunda etkili olduğu bulunmuştur. Okul ikliminin öğretmenlere etkisinin dolaylı olarak çocuklara yansıdığı ve sınıfta psikolojik olarak güvenli ve nitelikli eğitim ortamı oluşturmada etkili olduğu da sonuçlar arasındadır.

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An Inquiry-Based Mathematics Activities Module (IBMAM) consisting of integrated and child-centered activities was developed. IBMAM provides preschoolers 60-72 months of age with the opportunity to develop mathematical and inquiry skills and use them actively to construct their own learning. The present study aims to investigate the effects of IBMAM on preschoolers. Teachers' and parents' views were obtained, and long-term observations (16 weeks) were performed. Phenomenology, which is a qualitative research design, was used in this study. The study sample consisted of a pre-school teacher of a kindergarten (Sincan, Ankara) and her children's parents in the academic year of 2016-2017. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the teacher to assess the post-IBMAM process, changes in their views of math and math education, the effects of IBMAM on preschoolers' math skills and changes in the classroom. Preschoolers' parents' were also interviewed to evaluate changes in preschoolers at home. To support the results of the interviews, unattended and structured classroom observation was conducted twice a week for four months on certain dates. Instant field notes were taken during each observation, which was also videotaped. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results showed that IBMAM contributed to all areas of development by providing a fun and educational setting that increased preschoolers' motivation. In the observations, it was understood that the applied module gave pre-school children different perspectives, encouraged active participation, enabled learning to continue, and help enabled pre-school children to use their scientific process skills more frequently. Moreover, parents noticed positive changes in their children, and therefore, were optimistic about the future.

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This quantitative study aimed to address variables related to six classroom management models used by 1323 preservice preschool teachers: behavioral change theory, Dreikurs, Canter, Glasser, Kounin, and Gordon models. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics form and the Classroom Management Strategy Determination Scale. Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. Results showed that the classroom management course taught by experts helped preservice preschool teachers choose the right models. Gender played a role in Dreikurs' social discipline model, while undergraduate education played a role in Canter's assertive discipline model.