In-service english teachers' use of information and communication technology for self-directed professional development


Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Yabancı Diller Eğitimi Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2017

Öğrenci: GAMZE ERDEM

Danışman: PERİHAN SAVAŞ

Özet:

This research investigated in-service English teachers’ use of information and communication technology (ICT), especially the Internet, for their self-directed professional development (SDPD). The purpose of this study was to investigate English teachers’ use of ICT to further their professional development and offer suggestions to improve self-directed professional development of teachers through ICTs. Sequential explanatory design of mixed method, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data, was implemented in the study. Quantitate data were collected through an online questionnaire which was completed by 184 English teachers working at primary, secondary, high school and university levels in Turkey. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews which were realized by 12 voluntary teachers completing the questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively through a statistical analysis package used in social sciences. Qualitative data were transcribed, relevant codes were extracted, themes were formulated and frequencies were noted. Both data were triangulated to get a comprehensive understanding of the results. The findings of the study indicated that English teachers facilitated from ICT resources, especially the Internet, for overall professional development, practices at classroom level and collaboration with others to great extent. Results also showed that there were both promoting and inhibiting factors affecting teachers’ use of ICT resources. However, promoting factors outweighed inhibiting factors. Teachers mentioned more promoting factors compared to inhibiting factors. Participants also offered suggestions to both teachers and administrators to facilitate from ICT resources more effectively for teacher professional development.