He use of technology in music teachers' lessons, their attitudes towards technology use, and in-service training needs (The case of Van province)

Technology's continuous updating and widespread integration into all aspects of society is an undeniable reality. With such rapid technological advancements, it is expected that society also keeps itself updated and adapts to the evolving technology. In education, like in any other domain, it has become necessary to embrace technology and for educators to take steps in this direction to keep up with the times. While there are numerous studies focusing on the use of information technology in various subjects, the literature reveals a lack of sufficient research regarding the use of technology in music lessons. Therefore, this research is designed to identify music teachers' approaches towards technology and their in-service training needs in this regard. The study aims to determine the extent to which music teachers use technology in the educational process, their attitudes towards technology, and their in-service training needs. In this context, teachers' attitudes towards technology usage and in-service training needs were examined in relation to variables such as gender, professional experience, the type of school they work in, and educational background. This study was conducted during the 2022-2023 academic year with a total of 162 music teachers in Van, consisting of 70 females and 92 males. The data collection tools used were questionnaires and scales. The questionnaire items were developed based on a study titled "Examination of the Opinions of Students Receiving Academic Music Education on the Use of Music Technologies in Their Lessons," conducted by Kaya (2009), and the semi-structured interview form was adapted through pilot application by the researcher. For the scale items, the "Attitude Scale for the Use of Technology in Education," developed by Öztürk (2006), was used. The participants' demographic information was collected through a personal information form. The attitude scale for technology use in education consists of three subscales: the impact of technology on teaching processes, self-improvement, and technology use in classroom management. SPSS 20 software was used for data comparison. The analyses conducted on this scale showed an internal consistency of "0.90." The results indicated that music teachers generally displayed positive attitudes towards the use of technology in education. This suggests that teachers have a high level of positive approach towards using technology in education. This attitude did not vary significantly based on gender and educational background; however, differences were observed according to professional experience and the type of school where they work. Additionally, the distributions of many variables were examined in the research. In line with the results obtained from the study, it was revealed that music teachers require more personalized and need-based in-service training programs on technology and technology use. Based on these findings, recommendations have been proposed.