Paving the Way for Media Literacy Instruction in Preservice Teacher Education: Prospective Teachers' Levels of Media Literacy Skills

Abstract

This study aims to identify prospective teachers' levels of media literacy skills. This is a mixed-type study with explanatory sequential design. In the quantitative phase, 865 prospective teachers in a state university, selected through multi-stage cluster sampling method, took Media Literacy Skills Scale. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were held with five prospective teachers. In data analysis, CFA, descriptive statistics, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test and descriptive analysis were used. The study reveals that prospective teachers have a medium level of media literacy skills and their levels differ significantly by their academic success and teaching programs they attend to but not by gender. The qualitative analysis also puts fort the participants lack some competencies in media literacy skills of access, analyzes, evaluate and communicate; and provides detailed descriptions as to them. This research is expected to serve for curriculum development studies with respect to media literacy instruction in preservice teacher education.