Abstract:

It is aimed at this work to reveal the views of Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge (RCMK) course teachers about learning environments outside the classroom. Following this purpose, convergent parallel design, which is one of the mixed method research designs, was used in our analysis. In this direction, we used the SPSS statistical program to analyse the data obtained with closed-ended questions collected from RCMK teachers through questionnaires. However, we examined the data obtained with open-ended questions through descriptive analysis. According to the research findings, it has been determined that most teachers use out-of-class learning environments in RCMK teaching. The most out-of-class activities of RCMK teachers are visiting the school mosque, Islamic sacred night (qandîl) activities and visiting mosques outside of school. Teachers stated that they preferred out-of-class environments to arouse curiosity in students, to help them see the real-life equivalent of what they learned in the classroom, to direct students to research, and to contribute to their social and moral development. The answers show that RCMK course teachers prefer out-of-class environments in accordance with the objectives of the curriculum. However, it has been determined that RCMK teachers have some deficiencies in planning, implementing, and evaluating out-of-class teaching. From the statements of the teachers, it is seen that teacher-centred teaching methods are generally practised in out-of-class learning environments. In a probable negative situation that may occur during the practising of out-of-class learning environments, the concern that the administrators will not stand behind the teachers emerges as the most crucial factor in their negative attitude towards taking students to out-of-class learning environments.

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