No abstract

Social studies is an important course in middle schools. Social studies, however, varies in scope as social studies benefit from social sciences' knowledge production. Social studies include social sciences' topics as well as such topics as social responsibility, socialization, social relations. These topics are directly or indirectly linked to the concept of secularism. The concept of secularism influences and shapes the political, social, military and even economic structures of a given country. The purpose of this study, by way of metaphor, is to examine the concept of secularism that students learn in social studies courses. In this study, the descriptive survey model was used and the content analysis was used in determining the categories and themes. The study group consists of students from two middle schools located in Siirt province center. The prepared forms were applied to 155 students. In determining the sample, convenience sampling was utilized from non-random sampling methods. As a result, when metaphors, categories and category ratios related to secularism are examined and they were found as 35% socially and culturally, 25% politically and administratively, 16% religiously, 13% legally and 11% in the sense of belonging. Considering the ratios, it is seen that they are considered in terms of social and cultural the most and in terms of legal and sense of belonging the least. The categorization of the secularism concept by the students at a high rate socially and culturally and politically and administratively is assessed as positive by considering the definition and structure of the concept.

The COVID-19 epidemic, which affects the functioning of institutions in almost every field, has also affected pre-service teacher education. In this process, unlike the traditional practice, pre-service teachers carried out the teaching practice with distance education. However, since the application was sudden, urgent and new, it could not be adequately evaluated. In this research, it is aimed to examine the pre-service teachers’ experiences of teaching practice with distance education in the COVID-19 process. The research was designed as a case study. Research data were obtained by semi-structured interview and observation forms. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive, and content analysis methods. The participants are seven pre-service teachers and two practice teachers who guide these candidates. According to the results of the research, it has been revealed that pre-service teachers give distance education according to their own possibilities and adapt to the process in teaching practice. However, it was determined that they faced some problems in preparation, classroom management, teaching process and using technology. It is expected that future applications will be more effective if pre-service teachers receive training on distance education, are supported with distance education tools, and their infrastructure problems are resolved.

Araştırma 2016-2017 eğitim-öğretim yılının ikinci döneminde, Siirt il merkezindeki bir ortaokulda öğrenim gören 148 öğrenci ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, nitel araştırma desenlerinden "olgubilim deseni" kullanılmıştır. Örneklemin belirlenmesinde seçkisiz olmayan örnekleme yöntemlerinden ölçüt örnekleme kullanılmıştır. Ölçüt olarak Türk, Arap, Kürt kökenli öğrencilerin öğrenim gördüğü bir okul seçilmiştir. Verilerin toplanmasında öğrencilerinin "millet" kavramına ilişkin algılarını belirlemek amacıyla, öğrencilere "Millet…a/e benzer. Çünkü …" ifadesinin yer aldığı bir form kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın amacı, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesindeki farklı etnik grupların bulunduğu bir okulda öğrencilerin genel olarak millet kavramına ilişkin metaforik algılarının belirlenerek incelenmesidir. Öğrencilerden 118 metafor elde edilerek, metaforlar 8 kavramsal kategoriye ayrılmıştır. En yüksek frekansa sahip olan metaforlar, vatan (f=16) ve aile (f=14) olarak görülmektedir. Öğrencilerin "millet" kavramına çoğunluk olarak "vatan" kavramını cevap olarak vermesi olumlu olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Kategorilere bakıldığında öğrenciler tarafından en fazla birlik ve manevi birlik; en az ise kültür ve bağımsızlığın değerlendirildiği; milleti oluşturan ülkü unsuruna ise hemen hemen hiç değinilmediği görülmektedir. Farklı etnik unsura sahip olan öğrencilerin millet kavramına ilişkin yorumlamada kavram eksiklikleri olmasına rağmen, öğrencilerin millet kavramını etnik ayrım yapmaksızın oluşturdukları görülmektedir. 148(%100) öğrenciden 118(% 80)'i millet kavramı ile ilişkili olan ilgili forma yanıt vermiş olmasına rağmen, öğrencilerin 30'u yani %20'si ise forma hiç cevap vermemiştir. Yüzde 20 oranı yüksek bir oran olup, millet kavramını bu oranlar dâhilinde değerlendirilecek olunursa, çalışma grubundaki öğrencilerin millet kavramına yönelik kazanım yeterliliklerinin düşük olduğu söylenebilir.

The purpose of this study is to reveal the cognitive structure of middle school students regarding concepts of nature and environment. In this study, phenomenological pattern, a form of qualitative research was used. The study group comprised 137 middle school students, who were studying in schools located in Siirt City in Turkey that are part of the provincial directorate of national education during the Fall Semester of the 2015-2016 academic year. In this study, the Word Association Test was used as the data collection tool. In this Word Association Test, middle school students were given two key concepts-nature and environment. They were asked to write down words that came to mind and that they associated with these concepts, and to use them to make a sentence in a given time. In the analysis of the data obtained, a frequency table was used, composed of the responses that related to the key concepts of nature and environment. Additionally, in accordance with data received, a concept network was formed to establish the students' cognitive structure related to concepts of nature and environment. According to the study findings, middle school students were not able to sufficiently relate to concepts of nature and environment in their cognitive structures and their minds showed some disconnections.