Yumuş, Melike Başkent University - Department of Early Chilhood Education, Turkey , Tanju, Ebru Hasibe Başkent University - Department of Early Chilhood Education, Turkey

Investigation of Teacher Candidates’ Views about Early Intervention in Early Childhood

36200

Early intervention programs aim to identify children who are growing in disadvantaged environments and to improve or change those disadvantaged circumstances that children are faced with and children’s interactions with others in that environment. Because of this, it is very important for educators of these disadvantaged children to have knowledge about early inetrvention programs’ objectives and contents. Thus, current study aims to understand pre-service early childhood teachers and child developmentalists’ level of awareness related to the aim and the content of early intervention programs. Sample of the study includes 210 students from 3rd and 4th grade pre-service early childhood teachers and child developmentalists. The data of the study were gathered through a questionnaire prepared by the researchers and were analyzed through descriptive analysis (frequency, percentage) and Chi-Square analysis. The findings indicated that taking courses related to early intervention has an effect on candidate’s awareness levels about the aims and contents of early intervention. Possible reasons of the findings and suggestions to improve the current situation were provided.

68

Early intervention , early childhood , pre , service early childhood teachers

Başkent University Journal Of Education

76