A Study on Prospective Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Beliefs Regarding the Implementation of Constructivist Approach (A Case of Konya)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to reveal prospective teachers’ perceptions and views about the implementation of the constructivist approach. The study was conducted on 528 prospective teachers in their 4th year at Necmettin Erbakan University Ahmet Keleşoğlu Education Faculty and Selcuk University Faculty of Science and Faculty of Letters in the academic year of 2014-2015 in Konya, Turkey. The mixed method, where qualitative and quantitative methods are used together, was used in the study. In collecting the quantitative data, 5-point Likert type “Self-Efficacy Scale for the Implementation of Constructivist Approach”, which was developed by Evrekli, Şaşmaz-Ören and İnel (2010), was used whereas a semi-structured interview form consisting of two questions was used in collecting the qualitative data. It is justified to say, on the basis of the data obtained from the study, that prospective teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs regarding the planning of lessons according to the constructivist approach, forming a process of teaching and learning as well as a process of testing and evaluation and creating a learning environment were high. Moreover, it was concluded that prospective teachers’ beliefs concerning the implementation of the constructivist approach did not exhibit variation by the type of faculty where they were receiving education and by gender but that they varied by their academic mean scores.