A study on the motivation of social study teachers against the course during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Kastamonu

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic process in the world, face-to-face lessons in our country's schools have been tried to be compensated through distance education. One of the courses taught in this way in secondary schools is the Social Studies course. In this study, the motivation of the Social Studies branch teachers who teach the Social Studies course taught through distance education was examined. For this purpose, the opinions of 26 Social Studies teachers, who are the head of the school branch, who work in all schools in the 2021-2022 academic year in Kastamonu city center, were consulted. The research is based on the case study pattern, one of the qualitative research methods. The research was carried out according to the nested single case pattern, which is one of the case study techniques. Social Studies teachers were asked 13 questions prepared by the researcher about the factors affecting their motivation in the distance education process. The data thus obtained were analyzed by content analysis. According to the general result of the study, the motivation of the Social Studies teachers in the distance education courses during the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased compared to the face-to-face education. It has been stated that the main factors that reduce the motivation of Social Studies teachers are student reluctance, parental indifference, lack of technological infrastructure and lack of technological tools that will provide distance education. It has also been understood that the social studies course has positive aspects in response to the negative situations brought about by distance education. As a matter of fact, it has been stated that some students who do not actively participate in the lessons in face-to-face education express themselves better in the distance education process, and thus their participation in the lesson in distance education increases compared to face-to-face education. One of the results revealed by this research is that it is not effective in realizing the gains that should be given according to the Social Studies Curriculum in the courses taught through distance education. However, teachers state that distance education can be applied as an alternative way of teaching in order not to fall behind the program when face-to-face education is not available. Since the Social Studies course is a course that integrates many different disciplines, its scope is quite wide. For this reason, most of the students are able to express themselves better in the Social Studies course in accordance with their interests and aptitudes, and they actively participate in the course. However, since it is not possible to apply eye contact, gestures and mimics in the body language that completes the teacher-student relationship in the courses taught through distance education, it is not possible to apply some methods and techniques in the course, so students' interest in the course decreases. This situation has been stated as one of the most important reasons for the decrease in motivation of Social Studies teachers.