Abstract:

The aim of this study was to examine distance education applications in the Covid-19 pandemic process in Turkey according to faculty members’s views. The study group of the research consists of 77 faculty members. The data were collected between September 30 and October 8, 2020. This research carried out with case study, one of the qualitative research method design. Research data collected with standardized open-ended interviews form and analyzed with content analysis. According to findings, faculty members mentioned gaining technological literacy in the pandemic process, providing continuity of emergency education in pandemic and creating an unusual experience as positive sides of their experiences about distance education applications in the pandemic process. They pointed out lack of infrastructure, lack of preparation for distance education and inequalities in students' access to the system as problematic points in distance education. Faculty members made suggestions to develop current distance education applications such as allocating resources to strengthen institutions' distance education infrastructure, establishing a single common national system and preparing an action plan for emergencies. Finally, they also made some predictions for future, such as the integration of innovative technologies into distance education, conducting scientific activities with distance education and transitioning to new distance education applications.

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