PROFESSIONAL CHARACTERS OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (MUĞLA SITKI KOÇMAN UNIVERSITY SAMPLE)

Abstract

It is necessary to enrich teacher education programs with extracurricular activities both for prospective teachers own and professional development. Therefore, this study aimed to examine prospective teachers’ participation in extracurricular activities and how they contribute to prospective teachers’ professional characters. The study was conducted on case study design of qualitative method. The data were obtained from 131 prospective teachers from different departments studying in 2015-2016 academic year. According to the results, it was found that prospective teachers preferred to participate in extracurricular activities on campus, the activities differed among departments. They also think that extracurricular activities have an impact regarding these activities leading effect, developing activity preparation skills, contributing to joyful lessons, having experience for professions, increasing interaction with the environment, enlarging world knowledge and visions, and developing communication skills. It is essential for teacher candidates to practice extracurricular activities in their professional characters. It shows that future teachers internalized these activities somehow and they did not participate in these activities only to pass time. In the light of the results, it is crucial not to avoid extracurricular activities. Teacher education programs should not be developed solely on written programs. Therefore, teachers to be should be directed to extracurricular activities, field-based organizations should be intensified, professional developments with these activities should be highlighted, and these activities should be attractive.