A Qualitative Study to Determine Religious Culture and Ethics Teachers’ Level of Use of Alternative Assessment and Evaluation Tools

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to reveal the knowledge level of teachers of Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge (RCMK) about the Approaches of Alternative Assessment and Measurement (AAM), their use of approaches in their teaching context, their opinions regarding these approaches, the problems they face in this regard and the solutions they offer to eliminate these problems. The sample of this research consists of 19 teachers of RCMK working in primary and secondary schools (4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades) in Çankaya, Yenimahalle, Sincan, Etimesgut and Keçiören central districts of Ankara during the school year of 2014-2015. Due to the qualitative nature of the study, maximum diversity and snowball sampling methods, which are among the purposeful sampling methods that emerged in the qualitative tradition, were used in the sample selection. Written interview technique, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the study. A semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher through Google Forms on the web environment was used as a data collection tool. Descriptive analysis and content analysis were performed on the data formed by the written answers given to the semi-structured interview form. In the light of the data obtained as a result of the research, it has been determined that the RCEC teachers do not have enough knowledge in the field of measurement and evaluation in general and in the field of Approaches of Alternative Assessment [AÖD] in particular. As far as the tools of AAM are concerned, deficiency in physical infrastructure, crowded classrooms, excessive paperwork are the most important problems faced by teachers among the others. In line with the findings, suggestions are given regarding the problems teachers face while using AAMI tools.