Lifelong Learning Tendencies of Prospective Teachers: Investigation of Self-directed Learning, Thinking Styles, ICT Usage Status and Demographic Variables as Predictors

Özet

Öz This study has sought to examine the predicting effect of self-directed learning, thinking styles, ICT usage status and demographic variables on lifelong learning tendencies of prospective teachers. A total of 143 prospective teachers year was recruited in this study. This study adopted a relational screening research model. Several instruments including lifelong learning tendencies, self-directed learning, thinking styles and a personal information form developed by the researchers were employed to obtain data. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate into the predicting effect of independent variables on the dependent variable. Five models related to lifelong learning were formed in the study and it was found that all of them were statistically significant. In this sense, all hypotheses were accepted in the study. The findings clearly indicate that the most important model that explains the lifelong learning tendencies of prospective teachers is the model 3, in which the number of trainings for personal and professional development were included in hierarchical regression. Additionally, it was found that the most significant predictors of lifelong learning tendencies of prospective teachers were the number of trainings for personal and professional development, daily internet usage time for educational purposes, self-directed learning, gender and department.