ASSESSMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS BY SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS

Özet

The present study aimed to investigate the views of social studies teachers on entrepreneurship skills using the phenomenology design. The study data was collected with semi-structured interviews. Criterion sampling was used in the research. The study criterion included the social studies teachers that instructed the course in 5th and 6th grades since it was stated in social studies curriculum that entrepreneurship skills should be acquired in the 5th and 6th grades. Ten social studies teachers, who were employed in various schools in Aydın province districts, participated in the study. Data collected in the study were analyzed with content analysis. Teachers described entrepreneurship skills with risk taking, curiosity, being brave, discovering needs, generating ideas, thinking differently, being confident, active, and prioritizing the social welfare. Teachers emphasized mental, emotional and social traits among the behavior of the students with entrepreneurship skills. They mentioned environmental, familial, personal and education-related points on the factors that affect entrepreneurial skills were analyzed. Upskillingbetter entrepreneurship skills within the context of educational and instructional activities, the teachers provided information by utilizing the environment. Majority of teachers mentioned that they conducted various activities and utilized the material for the students to acquire entrepreneurship skills. Several teachers measured the students’ entrepreneurship skills via observations in the process. Furthermore, social studies teachers suggested that entrepreneurship should be instructed more clearly in educational activities.