Abstract:

This is a quantitative study that aims to investigate IT Teachers’ perceptions about using games in education. In this study survey method was used. The questionnaire was adapted from previous study conducted by Can (2003). 5 experts checked the items to control whether they were appropriate and valid for the aim of the study. Questionnaire was administered to 31 IT Teachers (18 male and 13 female) from different cities in Turkey. 25 of them are working at primary school, four of them are working at high school and two of them are working at public education center. The average age of the participants are 26,13, ranging from 23-year-old to 28-year-old. The less experienced teacher has been working for one year and the most experienced teacher has been working for four years. Seven participants have never played a computer game, nine participants were playing games but they are not playing now and 15 participants play computer games. This study reveals an important issue regarding the perception of IT teachers about the usage of games in education. They results showed if a general question was asked to teachers about the games, they gave negative answers because of focusing the negative aspects. However, despite the negative opinions about the computer games stated above, when separate statements about positive aspects of the games were given IT teachers respond positively to those items. This shows that, there is confusion about the games in teachers mind. They focused on the negative effects of the computer games so that they did not recognize the benefits of those games at first glance. But when they were asked about the benefits, they realized those benefits and responded positively to the items.

Keywords:

Game, Education, IT Teacher, Perception.