How Faculty Members and Graduate Students Define the Field of Computer Education and Instructional Technology?

Abstract

The term Instructional Technology has been used since 1960s and defined differently throughout the time. Along with the increase in the use of information and communication technology in schools; the need for technologically qualified teachers has been increased. While many of instructional technology programs are at graduate level around the world; Turkey has an undergraduate level instructional technology program, called Computer Education and Instructional Technology (CEIT) in addition to graduate level. The department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology was founded in 1998 during the reconstruction of Faculties of Education in Turkey. The purpose of this study is to investigate the similarities and differences among how graduate students and faculty members define CEIT department, as well as their opinions on the current situation of the program, and their 1 The initial findings of the study were presented at the " 8th International Computer & Instructional Technologies Symposium", held in Edirne (Turkey) on 18-20th September 2014.