Abstract:

Various programs and practices have been implemented in teacher training for secondary education in Turkey. Secondary Education Teacher Graduate Program (4 + 1,5 year) has been one of the teacher training programs since 1998. The purpose of this study was to examine whether there were significant improvements on teacher candidates' attitudes towards teaching profession by gender and department. School survey method and longitudinal data collection method were used. The data were collected via Attitude towards Teaching Profession Scale (ATPS) that was developed by the researchers. Data were gathered from 158 students in the Secondary Education Teacher Graduate Program during three semesters by administering ATPS for four times. According to findings, there were no changes in students' attitudes towards teaching profession by semesters and there were no interaction effects of semester and gender, and also semester and department. This finding indicated that the Secondary Education Teacher Graduate Program did not contribute to develop students' attitudes towards teaching profession positively. Based on these results, activities and research suggestions were recommended.

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