Primary education the opinions of visual art lesson teachers about material utilization

This study aims determining the opinions of Visual art lesson teachers about material utilization. In order to achieve this aim, the opinions of Visual Art teachers employed in 2010-2011 academic year were investigated for material utilization.The focus of this study is the Visual Art teachers working at the elementary schools located in downtown Ankara. To determine the sampling process, 60 teachers have been taken from different towns with specific socioeconomical statuses. The results are obtained by surveys and interviews.In written survey, the teachers have been asked for their employment period and location. In addition, there are 17 questions related to material utilization. We have used likert type scale consisted of 5 choices for the questions, which determine the level of material utilization by the teachers. Another source for material utilization is the questions inquired during interview. The teachers have chosen randomly for the interview. The focus of interview is to understand the reason for teachers use certain material, different kinds of technological materials, the way teachers provide materials, and the problems they have experienced during material utilization.The data analysis process has been performed using different statistical techniques including frequency, percentage, arithmetical mean, and one-way anova. Based on the findings from statistical data analysis;Most of the teachers exhibit high levels of different kinds of material utilization. The teachers used in this research indicated that the material utilization in Visual art lesson is very important and necessary. The computer, internet, CD, radio-recorder, slide projector, graphs, sample drawings, posters, and journal board are the mainly used materials in this lecture.The teachers, who participated in this research, indicated that teaching material facilitates learning process, enriches visualization, is time saving, alleviates the content of the lecture, improves teaching-learning environment, is easy to provide, and facilitates the transfer of innovations to students.The teachers stated that the teaching materials are provided from their own budget or by school administration.The problems teachers have about material utilization in Visual art lesson are limited time for lecturing, inadequate physical environment in class and school, limited availability of materials at school, insufficient information about material utilization, and lack of books for these lectures.According to this research there is no significant difference between the years teachers were occupied, location of the schools and the levels of material utilization.The findings achieved with this study suggest that teachers are supposed to be aware of recent improvements and exercise them in their lectures, courses and seminars need to be prepared for all Visual art teachers to improve their abilities, and teachers need to be further educated about the improvements on technological materials. The curriculum of education departments should cover more courses about material utilization, the executive and related departments for education technology should work more effectively; the school directors and family-school unions should work more to improve the class environment with teaching materials.