TEACHERS’ OPINIONS ABOUT INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY USE IN EDUCATION: A METAPHORICAL STUDY

The aim of the study is to determine teachers’ opinions on the use of information and communication technologies in education. The research was designed as a phenomenological study, one of the qualitative research methods. Convenience sampling was used for choosing the participants. However, in the study group,13 teachers from all levels of education and from different educational backgrounds have been included to ensure the participant diversity. Therefore, maximum diversity sampling is also taken as a basis for determining the participants. The data were collected via individual face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview form prepared by the researcher. Descriptive and inductive content analyses were used in the analysis process. Teachers have indicated that they mostly use information and communication technologies in their learning and teaching activities to increase their permanence, use rich content in lessons, attract students’ attention, motivate them and make the lessons fun. It has also been determined that information and communication technologies are used in the areas of data storage and transportation, administrative works, preparation for classes, communication, measurement and evaluation, research, access to information and sharing it, and personal and professional development. As a result, teachers have a positive perception about the use of information and communication technologies in education and they try to use them effectively in schools. Teachers have stressed that the use of information and communication technologies in education is mainly beneficial and that they may also have devastating effects. Moreover, information and communication technologies are seen as a deeply changing, developing and expanding field, and it is emphasized that the sufficient technology use is decisive for the effectiveness of information and communication technology in education