<p class="apa">The<strong> </strong>purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of authentic assessment, an approach used in Scientific Research Methods, on problem solving skills of prospective classroom teachers. The participant groups of the study consisted of sophomore prospective teachers who study at Dicle University in the Ziya Gökalp Education Faculty Classroom Teaching Department during 2013-2014 academic spring term. The two classrooms in the department were randomly assigned as experimental group (Group B) and control group (Group A). The experimental group was given authentic tasks and asked to do them group work. The authentic tasks fulfilled by prospective teachers were analyzed in accordance with the authentic assessment approach. Authentic assessment tools such as self-assessment, group assessment, portfolio assessment, teacher-peer assessment, weekly performance assessment, and student journals were used in the experimental group. Meanwhile, control group activities were based on a subject-oriented curriculum design and teacher-centered traditional practices and assessment were carried out. Methods like verbal lectures, discussions, and question-answers were used. In addition, the evaluation process was conducted on the mid-term exam essay in traditional sense. While the pre-test and post-test results of the experimental group indicate a statistically significant positive difference for the post-test, the difference between pre- and post-test results for the control groups were not found to be statistically significant. Moreover, a comparative analysis of adjusted post-test results based on pre-test results of experimental and control groups indicated a statistically significant positive difference in favor of experimental group.</p>

Nowadays, it is essential for teachers to renew themselves, change and continually pursue excellence. Thus, the core purpose of this study was to determine public and private school teachers’ views on professional image and influential factors. Within this framework, the overall objective of this study was to reveal teachers’ views on professional image, factors influencing this image, teaching profession status, profession dignity, teacher qualification and personal image. The study was based on a qualitative research design. In order to reveal different dimensions of the problem and give voice to different views, the research group was formed by 25 participants on the basis of maximum variation sampling. A semi-structured interview was conducted in the study. The data obtained from interviews were analyzed with descriptive analysis in accordance with semi-structured interview technique. The responses given by participants to each of the questions in interviews were analyzed and grouped in terms of similar and different characteristics. The views obtained from participants are presented in frequency (f) and percentage (%) on related tables, and their explanatory and indicative views were directly included into the findings. Teacher views based on factors influencing professional image were identified under the sub-theme of political figures as teachers are neglected by the government, and their profession is under-valued. On the other hand, the value and roles appointed to teachers by the Ministry, inconsistencies in education policies, ignorance of teacher views in studies, and forcing teachers into a passive position by over-vindication of students and parents are under the sub-theme of Ministry of National Education (MNE). From the interviews, the participants found teacher qualifications inadequate and considered the status as well as the prestige of the teaching profession to be low. ÖzetBu çalışmanın amacı: sürekli yenilenmenin, değişimin ve mükemmeli arayışın söz konusu olduğu günümüzde, kamu okullarında ve özel okullarda görev yapan öğretmenlerin mesleki imajlarına ilişkin görüşlerini belirlemek ve mesleki imaja etki eden faktörlerin neler olduğunu tespit etmektir. Bu genel amaç çerçevesinde öğretmenlerin mesleki imaj, mesleki imaja etki eden faktörler, mesleğin statüsü, mesleğin saygınlığı ve öğretmenlerin kişisel imaj hakkındaki görüşleri tespit edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Araştırmanın yöntemi ise nitel araştırma doğrultusunda olgu bilim deseninde tasarlanmıştır.Problemin farklı boyutlarını ortaya koyabilmek ve farklı görüşlere yer verebilmek amacıyla, araştırmanın çalışma grubu, örnekleme tekniklerinden maksimum çeşitlilik örneklemesi temel alınarak 25 katılımcıdan oluşturulmuştur.Araştırmada yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılmıştır.Yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme tekniğine uygun olarak, görüşmelerden elde edilen veriler, içerik analiz yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir.Görüşmelerde kişilerin her bir soruya verdikleri cevaplar, birbirine benzer ve birbirinden farklı olma durumlarına göre analiz edilerek gruplandırılmıştır.Belirlenen görüşler frekans (f) ve yüzde (%) olarak ilgili tablolarda gösterildikten sonra katılımcıların açıklayıcı ve belirleyici görüşleri doğrudan alınarak bulgulara eklenmiştir.Mesleki imajı etkileyen faktörlere yönelik öğretmen görüşleri, siyasi aktör alt teması altında; hükümetlerin öğretmeni sahipsiz ve yalnız bırakması, öğretmene değer vermemesi yönünde tespit edilmiştir.Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı alt teması altında ise; Milli Eğitimin öğretmene yüklediği anlam ve roller, eğitim politikalarındaki tutarsızlıklar, yapılan çalışmalarda öğretmenlerin görüş ve düşüncelerinin alınmaması, veli ve öğrenci her zaman haklıdır anlayışı doğrultusunda öğretmenin pasif bir konuma itilmesi olarak belirtilmiştir.Görüşmelerde katılımcılar öğretmenlerin niteliğini yetersiz bulmuşlar, öğretmenlik mesleğinin statüsünü ve saygınlığını ise düşük değerlendirmişlerdir.

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There are plenty of approaches about teacher training techniques. When Turkey's teacher training method is taken into consideration, the attention is drawn on two well-known techniques: to edify students in education faculties and to make students 'a teacher' with the supplement of pedagogical courses after their graduation from science faculties. One of the factors deciding on the which one is the most effective way to make students a teacher is to learn student's own viewpoints and feelings about being a teacher. At this point, the main aim of this study is to get information about the attitudes of students from education faculties who are studying their last year in the faculty, and the students who are graduated from science faculty and taking pedagogical courses. 'A Questionnaire on the attitudes towards a teacher', developed by Üstüner (2006). The sample consists of 171 volunteer students from Sutcu Imam University and Gaziantep University. At the end of the study, it is revealed that students whose background from science faculties and taking pedagogical courses have more positive attitudes than students who are studying at the last grades in education faculties.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) approach is considered important by many countries and projects carried out in order to integrate into their curriculum. The widespread use of STEM is only possible if teachers have positive thoughts, knowledge and experiences about it. In this study, it is aimed to answer these research questions: "What do teachers think about the gains their students will achieve if STEM activities are implemented to their students?" and "What do they think about the implementation of STEM approach in their schools?". This study is a case study. Participants are twenty-three mathematics, science and information and communication technologies teachers (ICT). "Activities Evaluation Form" and "STEM Training In-School Implementation Evaluation Questionnaire" were used as data collection tools. As a result of research, although teachers have hesitations about implementing STEM activities in classrooms; they think that these implementations will make a significant contribution to students about the "skills" students will acquire, the dimension of knowledge they will gain about STEM activities, and the acquisitions of students regarding the learning process.