Evaluation of classroom teacher candidates' success in teaching practice using fuzzy logic

In this research, a model proposal is presented to evaluate the success of prospective classroom teachers who take teaching practice course using fuzzy logic. It aims to compare the results of this evaluation with the data obtained by the classical method. The study group of this research consists of fourth-year students studying in the classroom teaching department at a university in Turkey during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years. The data of 89 students were used for the study. In the study, a three-step fuzzy logic model was created using the Fuzzy Logic Toolbox tool in Matlab. The first two models were designed as three-input, single-output and the third model was designed as a two-input single-output. In the first model, while subject area knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and planning created input values, faculty member's fuzzy performance score created fuzzy output value. In the second model, while teaching process, classroom management, communication, evaluation and record keeping and the other professional competences created input values, practice teacher's fuzzy performance score created output value. In the third model, the output values of the first two models was used as input values, and the fuzzy performance score was used as the output value. In the first two models, a fuzzy rule table consisting of twenty-seven rules was created, while the third model had a rule table consisting of sixteen rules. In all models, triangular membership functions were used. The defuzzification was carried out using the centroid method of the Mamdami type fuzzy inference system. As a result of the data obtained revealed a significant difference between the data obtained using the classical method and the data obtained using the fuzzy logic method. Moreover, the research found out 0,497 positive correlation between the performance score in teaching practice and the fuzzy performance score. Keywords: Achievement Evaluation, Fuzzy Logic, Fuzzy Set, Mamdani Inference System, Matlab, Teacher Candidate, Teaching Practice