Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
1EMB001Introduction to Educational Sciences3+0+03405.11.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Primary Education Teaching
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Compulsory
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The aim of this course is to enable prospective primary school teachers to understand education as a scientific discipline, to learn fundamental concepts related to education, its aims and functions, and its theoretical foundations. The course aims to introduce the basic research methods used in educational sciences, the relationships between teachers, students, curricula, and the environment in the school and classroom, the structure and changes of the Turkish National Education System, and the characteristics of the teaching profession. Furthermore, it aims to contribute to the candidates ` ability to evaluate educational systems and practices from a scientific and critical perspective in light of 21st-century educational trends, and to develop their professional awareness.
Course Content The Introduction to Education course is a fundamental professional knowledge course that provides prospective primary school teachers with their first step into the field of educational sciences. The course covers basic concepts related to education, its aims and functions, its relationship with other disciplines, and its historical, philosophical, psychological, social, cultural, economic, legal, and political foundations. In addition, it examines research methods in educational sciences, the school and classroom as educational and learning environments, the structure and development of the Turkish National Education System, the teaching profession, current developments in teacher training, and trends in education in the 21st century. The course contributes to prospective teachers ` understanding of education as a multi-dimensional scientific field and their familiarity with the teaching profession.
Course Methods and Techniques Each lesson will begin with the instructor introducing the weekly course content. The teaching process will utilize lecturing, question-and-answer sessions, drama, role-playing, and case studies, and will include group discussions. Therefore, prior preparation on the topic to be covered is mandatory.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Associate Prof.Dr. Burcu GÃœRKAN ERCAN burcu.gurkan@hku.edu.tr
Associate Prof.Dr. Özlem ÜZÜMCÜ ozlem.uzumcu@hku.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
Course Notes The course is conducted through a theoretical and discussion-based approach in which the fundamental concepts of education and the relationships between educational sciences and different disciplines are addressed from a holistic perspective. Students are expected to prepare for weekly course topics in advance, participate actively in classroom discussions, and follow current developments in education. Throughout the course, the Turkish National Education System, the teaching profession, the historical, philosophical, psychological, social, economic, legal, and political foundations of education, as well as education and teaching in the 21st century, are examined together.
Documents Haftalık ders sunumları, ders izlencesi, eğitim bilimleri alanındaki temel kaynak kitaplar, bilimsel makaleler, MEB ve YÖK tarafından yayımlanan ilgili mevzuat ve raporlar.
Assignments Eğitimin temel kavramları, eğitimin kuramsal temelleri, Türk Millî Eğitim Sistemi ve öğretmenlik mesleğine ilişkin bireysel araştırma, makale inceleme ve değerlendirme ödevleri.
Exams Ara sınav ve yarıyıl sonu sınavı kapsamında dersin öğrenme çıktıları doğrultusunda hazırlanan çoktan seçmeli, kısa cevaplı ve açık uçlu sorular.

Course Category
Education %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Final examination 1 % 60
Total
2
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 15 3 45
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 15 3 45
Presentation 15 2 30
Mid-terms 1 1 1
Final examination 1 1 1
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 4 122

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Explains fundamental concepts related to education, its aims and functions.
2 Recognizes that education is a science and explains its relationship with other disciplines.
3 It explains education by relating its historical, philosophical, psychological, social, cultural, economic, legal, and political foundations.
4 It describes the basic research methods used in educational sciences.
5 It describes the roles of teacher, student, curriculum, and environment in the school and classroom as an educational and learning setting.
6 It interprets the structure, functioning, and historical and contemporary changes of the Turkish National Education System.
7 It explains the characteristics of the teaching profession and current developments in teacher training.
8 It develops professional awareness by critically evaluating education systems and practices in light of 21st-century educational trends.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Topic: Introduction to the course In the first week, the course objectives, learning outcomes, expectations from students, instructional materials, attendance requirements, teaching methods and techniques, and assessment criteria will be reviewed. A brief overview of the second week ` s topic will be provided. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
2 Topic: Basic concepts of education Basic concepts such as education, instruction, learning, school, curriculum and teacher will be defined, and the relationships among them will be explained. The aims of education and its individual and social functions will be addressed, and the relationship of education, as a scientific discipline, with other disciplines will be discussed. Pre-service teachers will be guided to relate these concepts to classroom practice. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
3 Topic: Historical foundations of education The development of educational thought from ancient times to the present and educational institutions in different periods will be examined. The history of Turkish education will be addressed through the pre-Islamic, Ottoman, Tanzimat and Republican periods, and the transformation of the Turkish National Education System from the past to the present will be discussed. The reflections of historical developments on current educational practices will be evaluated. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
4 Topic: Philosophical foundations of education The relationship between philosophy and education, and how the philosophical domains of being, knowledge and value are reflected in education, will be addressed. Major philosophical schools such as idealism, realism, pragmatism and existentialism, as well as educational philosophies such as perennialism, essentialism, progressivism and reconstructionism, will be introduced. The effects of these approaches on the roles of teachers, students and schools, and on the Turkish education system, will be discussed. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
5 Topic: Psychological foundations of education The relationship between education and psychology and the basic concepts of educational psychology will be addressed. The developmental characteristics of primary school-aged children will be examined through cognitive, socio-emotional and moral development theories. The importance of these developmental characteristics in the classroom teacher ` s planning of instructional processes will be discussed. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
6 Topic: Psychological foundations of education The basic principles of behaviourist, cognitive and constructivist learning theories will be addressed. Individual differences, motivation and factors affecting learning will be examined. How these theories can be applied to organising the learning environment in primary school classrooms will be discussed with examples. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
7 Topic: Social and cultural foundations of education The relationship between education and society, and the socialisation and cultural transmission functions of education, will be addressed. The effects of family, environment, social stratification and social change on education will be discussed. The functions of the school as a social institution and the reflections of cultural diversity in the classroom will be evaluated. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
8 Midterm exam Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
9 Topic: Economic foundations of education The relationship between education and the economy, and the characteristics of education as an area of both investment and consumption, will be addressed. Human capital, the role of education in development, the financing of education and equality of opportunity in education will be examined. The effects of economic factors on students ` academic achievement and access to education will be discussed. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
10 Topic: Legal foundations of education The legal bases of education will be examined within the framework of the Constitution, the Basic Law of National Education No. 1739 and related regulations. The general aims, fundamental principles, structure and functioning of the Turkish National Education System will be addressed. The rights and responsibilities of teachers, students and parents will be discussed. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
11 Topic: Research methods in educational sciences Scientific knowledge, the scientific method and the sub-disciplines of educational sciences will be introduced. The basic characteristics of quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research approaches will be addressed. The importance of educational research in improving classroom practice and the teacher ` s role as a researcher will be discussed. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
12 Topic: Political foundations of education The relationship between education and politics and the role of the state in education will be addressed. The processes through which education policies are formed, development plans, National Education Councils and the influence of international organisations will be examined. The reflections of political decisions on practices at the school and classroom level will be evaluated. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
13 Topic: Teaching as a profession The characteristics of teaching as a profession, professional ethics in teaching and the general competencies of the teaching profession will be addressed. The features of the school and classroom as educational and learning environments, and the teacher ` s roles in these environments, will be discussed. The development of the teacher education system in Türkiye and current regulations on teachers ` professional development will be examined. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
14 Topic: 21st-century skills in education 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication and digital literacy, together with the effects of technological developments on education, will be addressed. Education systems and practices will be critically evaluated in light of global educational trends. The role of the classroom teacher in helping primary school students develop these skills will be discussed. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.
15 Topic: End-of-term review The topics covered throughout the term will be reviewed, and their implications for the teaching profession will be evaluated together. The extent to which the course learning outcomes have been achieved will be reviewed, and information about the final exam will be provided. Reading the relevant source. Demirel, Ö., & Kaya, Z. (2018). Introduction to education. Pegem Academy Publishing.

 
Sustainable Development Goals
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P14 P15 P16 P17 P18 P19 P20 P21 P22 P23 P24
C1 1 1 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
C2 1 3 4 3 2 1 2 1 5 1 1
C3 1 4 1 4 3 2 1 1 3 3 1 3 1 1 1 3 1 1 4
C4 5 2 3 1 2 5 1 1 1 1
C5 3 2 3 3 2 4 3 2 2 1 1 3 1 3 2 1 1
C6 2 2 1 2 1 3 3 1 1 1 5
C7 1 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 4 2 4 1 1 1 1 3
C8 1 3 2 2 2 4 3 1 3 2 2 1 2 1 5 2 2 1 2 2

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant