Elementary Education Online, 11(2), 520 -529, 2012. İlköğretim Online, 11(2), 520-529, 2012. [Online]: http://ilkogretim-online.org.tr The Evaluation of the Views of Supervisors, Administrators, and Teachers on the Effectiveness of Leisure Activities Lessons Ahmet BOZAK 1 , Çiğdem APAYDIN 2 , Hasan DEMİRTAŞ 3 ABSTRACT: The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of leisure activities lessons based on the views of supervisions, administrators and teachers. 33 participants participated in this study 10 of whom were supervisors, 11 of whom were administrators, and 12 of whom were teachers. This study is a holistic multiple case study. The research used qualitative methods to gather the relevant data via semi- structured interviews with supervisors, principals, and teachers in Şanlıurfa. The results of the study revealed that leisure activities lessons were not effectively fulfilled. This is because of the lack of information about the school leisure time activities; these classes are regarded as a support time for the major lessons and physical school conditions are poor and materials do not exist for leisure activities. It was found necessary to include in-service training courses in regard to school leisure time activities. Also, participants argue that a guide book should be prepared about the applications of school leisure time activities. Keywords: Leisure time activities lessons, leisure time activities studies, elementary school SUMMARY Purpose and significance: Leisure time activities were started by the Turkish National Ministry of Education via promulgation in 2010 for the students attending from the 1 st to 5 th grades of elementary schools. Through this promulgation, it was planned that the students could enjoy school and express their feelings and ideas more freely at schools; in other words, the aim of these activities was to create several educational, instructional and entertaining activities that are likely to contribute to mental, physical, social and cultural development of students. The aim of this study was to state the views of teachers, administrators and the educational supervisors in regard to the effectiveness of these leisure time school activities which were put into practice for students studying at the 1 st –5 th grades during the 2010–2011 school year. Methods: This is a qualitative study. The structured written interview technique was used in order to collect the data. Sampling study groups were formed according to methods of maximum diversity. The sampling group was formed by the participation of 10 administrators and 11 teachers who work in villages and city centers and 10 supervisors who work in 10 different supervision districts in the province of Şanlıurfa. 33 people in total participated in the research. The content analysis technique -a kind of qualitative research model- was used in this study. Results: The supervisors, administrators and teachers argue that leisure time activities are not effectively fulfilled. According to the participants, this results from the lack of information about the leisure time activities; these activities are regarded as a supportive time for the major lessons and the physical school conditions are poor and materials for leisure time activities do not exist. The interview analyses of the administrators reveal that these activities are regarded to be a kind of matter just related to teachers. Teachers usually had some foresights for the case, but these were usually not supported by knowledge. On the other hand, it was seen that the teachers had some activities which could grab the attention of students. Another result of this study is that the teachers did not have enough information about leisure time activities. Discussion and conclusions: All 33 participants argued that it was a necessity to have an in-service training course regarding leisure time activities. Also, participants argue that a guide book should be prepared for the applications of leisure time activities. It is thought that this guide book will help and lead teachers regarding the applications of these activities. 1 Şanlıurfa Eğitim Müfettişi, İnönü Üniversitesi, Eğitim Bilimleri Bölümü, Eğitim Yönetimi ve Denetimi Doktora Öğrencisi, abozok77@hotmail.com 2 Dr. Akdeniz Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Eğitim Bilimleri Bölümü, Eğitim Yönetimi, Teftişi, Ekonomisi ve Planlaması Anabilim Dalı, cigdemapaydin@akdeniz.edu.tr , cigdemapaydin@mynet.com.tr 3 Doç. Dr. İnönü Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Eğitim Bilimleri Bölümü, hasan.demirtas@inonu.edu.tr brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk