Exploring Cultural Heritage Through Virtual Museums: Social Studies Teacher Candidates' Views and Experiences with Virtual Museums

Authors : Ceren Utkugün, Ramazan Yıldırım

Pages : 440-476

View : 48 | Download : 41

Publication Date : 2024-11-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :As the role of museums in preserving cultural heritage and passing it on to future generations becomes increasingly significant, virtual museums in a digitalized world have introduced a new dimension to the discovery and learning process of this heritage. This study aims to examine the views and experiences of social studies teacher candidates regarding virtual museums. The study was designed using a qualitative research method with a phenomenological approach. The study group consisted of 45 teacher candidates. A virtual museum interview form was used as the data collection tool. The data were collected in a digital environment through the completion of virtual museum interview forms. Content analysis was utilized for data analysis. The virtual museum visits of teacher candidates were analyzed under themes such as archaeology museums, history and ethnography museums, science and technology museums, and nature and environment museums, with prominent sites like Göbeklitepe and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations coming to the forefront. Teacher candidates positively assessed the use of virtual museums in social studies lessons for reasons such as supporting permanent learning by concretizing the teaching-learning process and making lessons more enjoyable. They designed various learning materials and activities using virtual museums, increased their cultural awareness, and contributed to their educational practices. As a result of the study, it was suggested to strengthen schools’ technical infrastructure, enrich virtual museum content, encourage teacher candidates to use virtual museums as teaching materials, and integrate virtual and physical museum visits to enhance the educational impact of virtual museums.
Keywords : Öğretmen Adayı, Kültürel miras, müze, sanal müze, sosyal bilgiler eğitimi