A study on the knowledge of concept maps on the part of teachers who educate children of 60-84 months

This study aims to determine the state of knowledge of concept maps on the part of teachers who educate children of 60-84 months. The target population of this study which is made by using the relational scanning model, consists of teachers working in private and public kindergartens and elementary schools in the districts of Başakşehir, Bakırköy, Bağcılar, Bahçelievler, Beylikdüzü, Esenyurt, Küçükçekmece, Sultangazi and Zeytinburnu located on the European side of İstanbul province in the academic year 2015-2016. The sample of the study is composed of 460 teachers selected according to the easily accessible sample selection model. For the content validity of the questionnaire, the content validity of index was examined via Lawshe technique by applying to 8 expert opinions. As a result of this technique, it is concluded that the minimum value of the test items in the information situation questionnaire about the concept maps of teachers who educate 60-84 months old children, is 0,91%. The questionnaire of "information situation questionnaire form about the concept maps of teachers who educate 60-84 months old children" developed by the researcher as data collection tool was utilized in the study. To determine the teachers' state of knowledge of concept maps, statistical techniques like frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation were used. "Low", "medium" and "high" levels of knowledge were identified for the scores the teachers made. In determining the level, the score intervals with maximum and minimum points were arranged in three equal parts. Accordingly, "1, 00 - 1, 67" signifies "low", "1, 68 – 2, 33" signifies "medium", and "2, 34 – 3, 00" signifies "high" level. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the structure of the data. In this analysis, to test the normality of the data, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied as the data group was over 30. Besides, "Normal Q-Q Plot" was provided to show the distribution of the data. The applied Kolmogorov-Smirnov test indicated that the p value (.00) was below.05, that there was a difference between the value and the normal distribution, and that normality was not ensured. In addition, the Normal Q-Q (Quantile-Quantile) Plot was conducted to show the relation between the normal distribution values and the observed real values. As the distribution in the plot showed that the data were not located on the line, it was concluded that the distribution was not normal. Since the data distribution was not normal, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were preferred, which are among non-parametric difference tests. In line with xv the analyses conducted, the states of knowledge of concept maps on the part of participant teachers were examined according to their educational attainments and a statistically significant difference was found. The score of teachers with bachelor's degree was found to be higher than that of those with associate's degree. The former was also found to be higher than that of those with graduate degree. The states of knowledge of concept maps on the part of participant teachers were examined according to the types of institutions they work at and a statistically significant difference was found. The score of teachers working at state schools were found to be higher than that of those working at private schools. On the other hand, when the states of knowledge of concept maps on the part of participant teachers were examined according to gender, age interval, field, and professional seniority, no significant difference was found. At the end of the study, the states of knowledge of concept maps on the part of teachers who educate children of 60-84 months were examined based on the analyses conducted, and it was concluded that the participant teachers have knowledge at "high" degree about concept maps.