How special are teachers of specialized schools? assessing self-confidence levels in the technology domain

Abstract

This study investigates whether specialized high school mathematics teachers, chosen to educate selected students, are mentally ready to integrate Fatih project technologies into their teaching. Forty mathematics teachers from randomly selected specialized and general high schools in Ankara responded to a survey comprising 31 items grouped under four measures of self-confidence in the technology domain. An independent t-test revealed no statistically significant difference between specialized and general high school teachers' self-confidence levels. We conclude that technological pedagogical content knowledge should be an essential criterion for selecting specialized school teachers, who educate the country's future innovators.