The attitudes of preschool teacher candidates studying through distance education approach towards teaching profession and their perception levels of teaching competency

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the attitudes of preschool teacher candidates studying through distance education approach towards teaching profession and to determine their perception levels of teaching competency. The population and sampling of the study were the senior students of Anadolu University, Open Education Faculty, Preschool Teacher Training Undergraduate Program. The study was conducted through 957 teacher candidates. A survey was used in order to measure the attitudes of teacher candidates towards teaching profession and to determine their perception levels of teaching competency as a data collection instrument for this study. The study revealed that the attitudes of teacher candidates towards teaching profession are quite positive, and their perception levels of teaching competency are very good. Moreover, the teacher candidates consider the program they enrolled in so beneficial for them to gain teaching competencies.