Influences of Social Structure on Implementation and Evolution of Turkish Distance Education

Fethi A. InanThe University of Memphis

Erman YükseltürkMiddle East Technical University

MSERA 2004, Gatlinburg, TN, Nov. 17-19, 2004

Turkey

Turkey's land mass is 814.578 sq.km. The European and Asian sides are divided by the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles.

Facts About Turkey

Population of Turkey : 67.8 million (as of 2002)

Number of PC s : 1.4 Million

Number of cellular phone holders :

28 Million (2003) Yearly income per capita :

$3.500 Current Internet Users :

5.5 million (2003) Literacy rate (2003)

total population: 86.5% male: 94.3% female: 78.7%

Turkish Education System

Primary school (K 1-8) Mandatory Directed by Government

High School (K 9-11) Directed by Government Separate schools (Regular/ Vocational)

University Enrolment by national student selection

exam Facilitate by Higher Education Council

Turkish Education System

The Current Situation in Education (1999-2000 School Year)

Levels of educatıon # Schools # Students # Teachers

Preschool 9.882 251.596 15.696

Primary School 43.324 10.053.127 324.924

Secondary School 6.168 2.444.407 143.469

General High Schools 2.663 1.506.379 70.249

Vocational and Tech. High 3.505 938.028 73.220

Total Formal Education 59.374 12.749.130 484.089

Non-formal Education 6.531 2.978.799 48.506

GRAND TOTAL 65.905 15.727.929 532.595

Characteristics of Turkish Culture

Low-power distance High-power distance

Weak uncertainty Av. Strong uncertainty av.

Masculinity Femininity

Individualistic Collectivist

Low-context High-context

Adapted from McIsaac, M. S. & Aydin, C. H. (2004)

History: DE in Turkey

Distance education has been employed in the Turkish Education System during three prominent periods: 1927-1955 : first period 1956-1981 : second period 1982-1996 : third period after 1996 : fourth period

In 1927, A distance education model, “correspondence course”, was offered to increase national literacy

From 1935 to 1955, distance education was brought to the agenda of public opinion from time to time but no action was taken

History: DE in Turkey, 1st period

In 1958, Correspondence Course Center (CCC) was founded within the Ministry of Education

School Radio started in 1963 1975 to 1978, "Education Through

Letters" application started

History: DE in Turkey: 2nd period

In 1982, Anadolu University (Open Education Faculty, OEF) started a program in Business Administration and Economics

OEF extends number of programs and students after starting one program and about 30.000 students.

OEF had a total of 650.000 students regarding the 1998-1999 academic year

History: DE in Turkey, 3rd period

In 1996, Bilkent University initiated some synchronous DE courses via satellite.

In 1997, Middle East Technical University (METU) started experimental distance education course via the Internet.

In 1998, METU started Internet Based Distance Learning certificate programs

In 2000, Sakarya University started online certificate programs

History: DE in Turkey, 4th period

History: DE in Turkey, 4th period

Online degree programmes Istanbul Bilgi University, 2000: Online

Business Administration (e-MBA) Middle East Technical University:

Online Master of Science Program in Information Science.

Anadolu University & Suny, ESC started a joint e-MBA program

Preview: DE in Turkey

Drives Technologies

1st Period(1927-1955)

Increase literacy level --

2nd Period (1956-1981)

Increase literacy level Improve workforce quality

Radio Printed materials

3rd Period

(1982-1995)

Politics Military service Increase country profile Shortage of workforce/ Job Promotions

Printed material TV

4th Period

(1996 -….)

Provide flexible education Needs for workforce Appeal students Appearances of private universities

Internet

Conclusion & Suggestions

Analyze the needs, problems, and characteristics of society

Ready-to-use interventions have never been successful in Turkey so that people should be provided with alternative technology solutions

Examine prior experiences

Things to do

Create technology infrastructure Improve access to information

technologies Train faculty members and

teachers in educational institutions