Özet:

The purpose of this study is to explore perceptions of Science Teacher Candidates' on distance education. Total 79 pre-service science teachers studying in Primary School Science Teaching Department in Giresun University participated in the study. This study was carried out with survey method, one of the descriptive research methods and it was conducted in 2013-2014 academic year. The data of the research was gathered with a questionnaire form developed by the researcher. The questionnaire consists of two parts. In the first part demographic information was requested from the participants and in the second part 6 open-ended questions were used to determine the opinions of the prospective teachers about distance education. Approximately 20 minutes were allowed for participants to complete the questionnaire. The findings from the questionnaire were analyzed to content analysis. One faculty member and one teacher jointly assessed the responses of the prospective teachers to the questionnaire and determined the themes and codes for each question. As a result of the study, participants mostly consider distance education as an instructional method that is delivered via computer. Considering the advantages of distance education, pre-service teachers stated that it offered suitable time and place, revision and it was economical. Regarding disadvantages, they said that it lacked interaction and socialization and it would decrease motivation because it was not planned like formal education. In the light of the results obtained, such practices as providing enough financial support for  distance education practices  which become more popular thanks to developing technology so that it can develop and become more popular, organizing informative courses for the users about distance education, and promoting the content of distance education elaborately can  be included.    

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