Analysis of technological pedagogical content knowledge studies in Turkey: A meta-synthesis study

The purpose of this research is to analyze the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) studies in Turkey by using meta-synthesis method and to present the type of tendency in this field. In the research, a total of 59 studies made up of 37 papers, 15 dissertations, and 7 assertions which were published between the years of 2008-2014 and chosen through purposeful sampling method were analyzed. Google Academics search engine, TÜB̄TAK ULAKB̄M DergiPark, YÖK National Dissertation Center, EBSCOhost-ERIC ve SPRINGER databases took advantages of selecting the studies. Each study were examined within the context of the study's purpose, subject area, method, sample, data collection tools, teaching applications and results by being subjected to content analysis. Obtained data were interpreted depending on the frequency and partly illustrated through tables and graphs. In the research, the results showed that a significant portion of the studies were conducted with the aims of scale validation/adaptation, examination of TPACK competences and developments; that a few number of studies focused on a special subject area; that survey study and data collection tolls such as scale/survey were used mostly; that studies conducted with prospective teachers were majority; that although it had been revealed that the participants usually have high levels of TPACK competence/perception in quantitative studies, the situation was contrary in qualitative weighted studies; that different teaching applications such as TPACK workshops, mixed vocational development program, blended learning increases TPACK. In light of the obtained results, it was seen that studies targeting TPACK development in which implementations are carried in a long process through using a quite number of data collection tools are needed in Turkey. Besides, it was recognized that the courses in education faculties should be re-updated according to TPACK and teachers or prospective teachers should be trained with the help of courses or in/pre-service training programs. Lastly, recommendations were made for researchers, program makers and appliers who will do studies in this field.