Opinions and Readiness of University Students about Distance Education: Afyon Kocatepe University Faculty of Science and Literature

This research via case study methodology, investigates the opinions and readiness of students that take Turkish Language I and Atatürk's Principals and Reforms History I through distance education; which are compulsory lessons in 4 licence departments of Afyon Kocatepe University-Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Students' readiness and opinions to distance education is investigated in detail within the factors of ICT (Information and Communication Technology), time and DL (Distance Learning). In this research, interwoven single situation pattern is used and quantitative and qualitative data is collected from students. Quantitative data is collected using a survey with 100 students and qualitative data is provided by semi-structured interview with 20 students. Survey data is analyzed through statistical analysis methods and interview data is analyzed by discourse analysis method. SPSS 24 and Excel 2016 programmes are used in various calculations, tables, analysis and graphical displays. As a result of the analysis, it is concluded that students are ready for distance education both generally and on the basis of ICT, time and DL. It is determined that approximately half of students are eager to take distance learning lessons. In addition; as a result of the interwievs, students' opinions on distance education has been researched under two themes as positive and negative. Positive opinions: learning has been investigated on the basis of environment and technology. The reasons of the negative approach has been seen under these themes: lack of active attendance, technical problems, no compulsory attendance and less interaction then formal education. As a result of interwievs, it has been seen that most of the students have positive approaches on distance education.