Metaphoric perceptions of pre-service teachers about ‘LEGO Robotic Instructional Practices,’ ‘Augmented Reality’ and ‘Flipped Classroom’ concepts

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal perceptions of pre-service teachers about ‘LEGO robotic instructional practices,’ ‘augmented reality’ and ‘flipped classroom’ concepts through metaphors. The study is descriptive research that was conducted as a survey model. The study group consists of 37 pre-service teachers studying the undergraduate programme of Science Teaching, Faculty of Education of a university in the Western Black Sea Region in the spring semester of the academic year 2016–2017. A form consisting of three open-ended questions was used as a data collection tool during the study. The data acquired were analyzed through content analysis method. Following the study, 15 different metaphors created in relation to the LEGO robotic instructional practices concept were categorized as ‘edutainment tool,’ ‘a technological tool’ and a ‘development tool,’ while 24 different metaphors created in relation to the augmented reality concept were categorized as ‘Perception Of Reality’, ‘A Technological Tool’, ‘Change/Transformation Tool’ and ‘Entertainment Tool’. Moreover, 25 different metaphors created in relation to the flipped classroom concept were classified in two categories as a ‘form of education’ and ‘an education shaping tool’. Moreover, almost all of the metaphors created were observed to have positive features.