Examination of the use of social networks in educational environments of science teacher candidates

The aim of this study is to examine the situations in which science teacher candidates use social networks in educational settings. For this purpose, the research was conducted with 177 science teacher candidates studying at Bolu Abant Izzet baysal University in the 2017-2018 academic year. In the study, SAKA (social networks purpose of use scale), SAEK (social networks educational use scale) and SAYGF (social networks written interview form) were applied to the science teacher candidates. The quantitative data obtained were analyzed by percentage, frequency, arithmetic mean and standard deviation, while the qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis and the results were interpreted. The findings were examined in terms of gender, class variable in students ' use of social networking. When the data obtained from SAYGF (social networks written interview form) were examined, it was concluded that the candidates of science teachers used social networks for educational purposes and that they could be used for educational purposes. It was concluded that they used social networks most often to 'communicate ' in situations of using them for educational purposes, and most often to 'exchange information' in cases of their availability for educational purposes. Another data concluded that science teacher candidates could use social networks in science teaching. In the case of using social networks in science teaching, it was concluded that they used them for 'experiments, activity videos and shares relevant to Science Education'.According to another conclusion, the candidates for science teacher have indicated that they can use social networks in all science subjects.