The Characteristics of Elementary School Teachers’ Lifelong-Learning Competencies: A Convergent MixedMethods Study
   
Yazarlar (2)
Ibrahim H. Acar
İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi, Türkiye
Prof. Dr. Şükran UÇUŞ GÜLDALI Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi, Türkiye
Makale Türü Açık Erişim Özgün Makale (SSCI, AHCI, SCI, SCI-Exp dergilerinde yayınlanan tam makale)
Dergi Adı Kuram Ve Uygulamada Egitim Bilimleri
Dergi ISSN 1303-0485 Wos Dergi Scopus Dergi
Dergi Tarandığı Indeksler SSCI
Makale Dili İngilizce Basım Tarihi 12-2017
Cilt / Sayı / Sayfa 17 / 6 / 1833–1852 DOI 10.12738/estp.2017.6.0082
Makale Linki https://jestp.com/index.php/estp/article/view/401
Özet
This study aims to address the characteristics of elementary school teachers’ lifelong-learning competencies using a convergent parallel mixed methods design. The participants are 203 elementary school teachers (71.9% female, 28.1% male) for the quantitative strand of the study and 25 randomly selected elementary school teachers for the qualitative strand. Teachers report their lifelong-learning competencies in the quantitative strand, and semi-structured interviews are conducted with teachers in the qualitative strand. Quantitative data are analyzed using cluster analyses, and qualitative data are analyzed using an open-coding system, after which the quantitative and qualitative results are merged. Cluster analyses show teachers to be categorized into three cluster groups (high, medium, and low) that reflect their lifelong learning self-management, learning-how-to-learn, initiative and entrepreneurship, information acquisition, decision-making, and digital competencies. The results also show teachers to differ in their competencies depending on which cluster group they belong to. Teachers in the high cluster group show higher levels of lifelong learning competencies, whereas teachers in the low group show lower levels. The qualitative analyses from the interviews consistently show teachers to have similar perceptions of lifelong learning that reflect the cluster group they belong to from the quantitative strand. Findings from the current study highlight the importance of lifelong learning competencies in the teaching profession.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Convergent study | Elementary school teachers | Lifelong learning | Professional development | Teaching profession