The ideas of the branch teachers related to the application of the new turkish course curriculum

Abstract

The aim of this research is to make an assessment related to the efficient and inefficient aspects of the curriculum after determining the ideas of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade branch teachers related to the application of the new Turkish Course Curriculum; and to make suggestions related to the insufficiencies in the application, and the alterations to be made in the future. At the study, the qualitative research pattern had been used. The data of the research had been obtained from 29 teachers, and interview method was used in order to obtain the data. The population of the research constituted of 47 official elementary schools which fall within Buca District of İzmir. And 20 schools determined by "Maximum Variety Sampling" constituted its subjects. The study was performed with 29 branch teachers working at 6th, 7th, and 8th grades at these schools. Whole of the research data was obtained by "Semi-Structured Interview Form" which was consisting of open-ended questions. In preparation of the form, primarily, the related literature was reviewed, and the Semi-Structured Interview Form was formed by collecting together the test interview items in the light of the obtained data. Expert opinions were asked to eight lecturers related to the form, and in the lights of the suggestions made, the questions were rearranged as six items. Then, at the end of the test application performed with 8 people, the final format of the form was created. The data was encoded by both researchers, and then the reliability of the questions were calculated by the following formula: "Reliability = Agreement/difference of opinion + Agreement × 100". And the reliability results obtained at the end of the interviews performed with totally 29 teachers are 84,37% for the first question, 80,00% for the second question, 76,19% for the third question, 79,24% for the fourth question, 73,43% for the fifth question, and 79,54% for the sixth question. At the study, it was determined that the teacher ideas were focused on "the problems resulting from the curriculum, fundamental reasons which make difficult to apply the curriculum and classroom activities". The teachers generally deliver their opinion towards "the insufficiency of the in service training, having too much activities, not having enough time to complete the activities, longness of the texts, insufficient opportunities of their schools, and having difficulties on assessment".