Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine elementary school teachers’ and school
principals’ views on physical learning environments of schools where teachers are
expected to implement the constructivist philosophy/approach. In this qualitative
study, the researcher interviewed 48 elementary school teachers and 6 school
administrators working in Uşak, Turkey. The qualitative data were transcribed and
analyzed through coding-based content analysis. The data collected from 7
participants (5 teachers and 2 administrators) were analyzed by three researchers
and the rest were analyzed by the author. At the end of the study, problematic
coding was discussed by the same three researchers again and codes were
discussed with some (n= 4) participants as well. That is, participants’ approvals
related to the results were obtained from 3 teachers and 1 administrator. The
findings showed that teachers’ common demands were special classrooms in order
to design their classes because they want to implement constructivism. Separate
English Language Classrooms with audio-visual materials; Turkish Classrooms
with books, visual materials, a computer with projector and internet connection,
and bulletin boards; Science and Technology Classes with laboratories, disposable
materials and visual materials; Mathematics Classes with smart board, broad
storages, and mathematical materials were demanded by the participants
Citation
ID:
251137
Ref Key:
durmu2016internationaleffective