Pala, Şenol Mail

Today's education systems aim to equip individuals with versatile, applicable skills rather than focusing solely on specific subject knowledge. By emphasizing skills training, individuals can better adapt to evolving global conditions and contribute to a more dynamic and competitive society through ongoing personal development. Reflecting this approach, many countries, including Türkiye, integrate skills training into their curricula. In the Social Studies Curriculum in Türkiye, communication and media literacy skills are among the skills aimed to be acquired by students in the learning area named ‘Individual and Society’ in the seventh grade. This study explores the relationship between these two skills. The research aimed to determine whether seventh-grade students' communication skills could predict their media literacy skills. Using a relational screening model, the study employed the "Communication Skills Assessment Scale" and the "Media Literacy Competence Scale" as data collection tools. Data analysis was performed through correlation and regression analyses. The study sample consisted of 416 seventh-grade students from 10 randomly selected secondary schools in Erzincan province, Türkiye, for the 2022-2023 academic year. The findings revealed significant relationships between communication skills and various sub-dimensions of media literacy. Specifically, communication skills were positively correlated with media literacy sub-dimensions and were identified as significant predictors for all aspects of media literacy.

Yilmaz, Nusrettin; Abu, Nese Kutlu

The purpose of this study is to investigate the meanings assigned to the concept of value by students in higher education who are receiving pedagogical formation from various faculties. The qualitative research method was employed, an open-ended questionnaire was referred to and metaphors were utilized to collect data. The study group consists of 126 students who graduated from various faculties during the academic year of 2020-2021. Codings were resorted to with a view to conducting data analysis in the MAXQDA program. It has been determined that the majority of pre-service teachers view "value" as consisting of material and spiritual elements, behavior and rules, rare and sacred objects, and unifying and organizing societal standards. 75% of teacher candidates consider family, religious, and cultural values as their primary guiding principles. Respect, love, justice, tolerance, and professional dedication were described by the majority of pre-service teachers as the core values of the teaching profession. The students created value-related metaphors, revolving primarily around concrete items from nature. Most students identify respect, love, justice, tolerance, and professional commitment as the fundamental values of the teaching profession. The conclusion of the study was that family, religious, and cultural values influence students' value perceptions. The research findings were discussed considering the pertinent literature, and a number of recommendations were made.

Çam, Zekeriya; Eşkisu, Mustafa; Kardaş, Ferhat; Saatçioğlu, Özkan; Gelibolu, Sedat

The current study aims to investigate the relationship among problem solving, hope, and self-efficacy and to test a model for determining the role of self-efficacy in the relationship between problem solving and hope. It adopted convenience sampling and consisted of 494 undergraduate students (369 females; 125 males). The Hope Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale and Problem Solving Inventory were applied in order to collect the data. Pearson correlation analysis and two-step Structural Equation Modelling were used for data analysis. Findings revealed that while a high level of positive correlation existed among problem solving, self-efficacy and hope, a moderate positive relationship was found between self-efficacy and hope. As a result of Structural Equation Modelling, self-efficacy was found to be significantly predicted by problem solving whereas hope was observed to be significantly predicted by problem-solving and self-efficacy. In addition, mediation analysis demonstrated that the relationship between problem solving and hope emerged through the development of self-efficacy. As a result, this paper exhibited that individuals with developing problem solving ability had also developing self-efficacy, which in turn leads to an increase in hope. Therefore, it may be effective to take into account the components that will improve individuals' problem solving skills and perceptions about themselves while conducting the studies to raise the hope level, which is an important concept of psychological health.