DETERMINATION OF THE EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY COMPETENCIES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS

Authors

  • Yunus Yılmaz Anadolu University, Faculty of Education, Turkey orcid.org/0000-0001-6988-798X
  • Havva Aysun Karabulut Abant İzzet Baysal University, Faculty of Education, Turkey orcid.org/0000-0001-9119-3626
  • Ahmet Serhat Uçar Anadolu University, Faculty of Education, Turkey orcid.org/0000-0001-5910-8751
  • Kadriye Uçar Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Education, Turkey orcid.org/0000-0002-9522-7624

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v7i2.3734

Keywords:

educational technology, educational technology standards for teachers, teacher qualifications, special education teachers

Abstract

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that started in December 2019 led to the closure of schools on a global level, and implementation of strict social distancing measures has led to rapid and prevalent changes in conventional forms of education and instruction. In this period where distance education is preferred in education processes, the education technology competencies of teachers have gained importance. In this context, this study aimed to determine the education technology competencies of special education teachers. The descriptive study included 114 special education teachers. The data were collected by using the “Education Technology Competencies Scale for Teachers” and analyzed by using the SPSS 25 package software. The maximum total score that could be obtained in the scale that was used in the study is 190. It was determined that, with the mean score of 155.27, the participants of this study had an education technology competency level of 81.72%. In this study which investigated the technological competencies of special education teachers, no significant difference was found based on the participants’ gender, professional experience or areas of teaching. Considering the items in the dimensions of the scale, it was found that the male teachers were more competent in terms of technical knowledge on technology, while the female teachers used the technological knowledge they had more effectively in classes, instruction and materials, as well as in communication with both students and parents.

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Author Biographies

  • Yunus Yılmaz, Anadolu University, Faculty of Education, Turkey orcid.org/0000-0001-6988-798X
    Yunus Yılmaz graduated from Anadolu University teaching program for the hearing impaired teaching (2011). He completed his master's degree in the same branch (2016). He continues PhD in the education of the hearing impaired. Scientific fields of study are teacher training and inclusive education. He works as a research assistant in the special education department of Anadolu University.
  • Havva Aysun Karabulut, Abant İzzet Baysal University, Faculty of Education, Turkey orcid.org/0000-0001-9119-3626
    Havva Aysun Karabulut completed his PhD in special education in 2020. She works as a lecturer at Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University. Her research interests are individuals with special needs, science teaching and inclusive education.
  • Ahmet Serhat Uçar, Anadolu University, Faculty of Education, Turkey orcid.org/0000-0001-5910-8751
    Ahmet Serhat Uçar completed his undergraduate education in Anadolu University teaching program for the mentally handicapped (2011). He completed his master's degree in the same program (2016). PhD continues in the same program. Scientific fields of study are inclusive education, vocational education, learning disabilities and teacher training. He works as a research assistant in the special education department of Anadolu University.
  • Kadriye Uçar, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Education, Turkey orcid.org/0000-0002-9522-7624
    Kadriye Uçar completed her PhD in Anadolu University special education department in 2020. She works as a research assistant at Aydın Adnan Menderes University. Scientific fields of study are students with special needs, mathematics education and inclusive education.

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Published

2021-05-11

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