INVESTIGATION OF EDUCATIONAL INTERNET USE SELF-EFFICACY PERCEPTIONS OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS ENROLLED AT A FACULTY OF EDUCATION: Sakarya University Sample

This study was conducted in cross-sectional survey model in order to determine the level of self- efficacy perceptions towards educational internet use of the prospective teachers attending Faculty of Education at Sakarya University. The findings of the survey revealed significant differences between the self-efficacy perceptions of the prospective teachers on internet use for educational purposes and gender, the department being attended, the experience in using a computer, weekly computer usage duration, weekly internet usage duration, weekly social media usage duration, their opinions on their own competency of using internet for educational purposes, their opinions on their adequacy in using the technology in Fatih Project, and their opinions on their adequacy in using the internet to find educational materials in their professional life. In general, according to the findings as the direct experiences of prospective teachers towards computer and Internet-related skills increase, educational internet use self-efficacy perceptions increase as well. In addition, taken the FATİH project and teacher qualifications issues into consideration, solid professional development programs have emerged as a need to develop the perceptions of prospective teachers.