Search

Distance education offers flexible learning opportunities in terms of time, place and learning speed to teachers and students through internet technologies. However, the learning opportunities provided in distance education environments require students to act more autonomously and take more responsibility for regulating their learning processes to achieve their learning goals. For this reason, it is crucial to reveal the relationships between flexibility, self-regulated effort and satisfaction factors to provide efficient and effective learning environments in distance education. Accordingly, within the scope of this study, it is aimed to investigate university students’ perceptions of flexibility, self-regulated effort and satisfaction with the distance education process, and their views on distance education. Survey research was used as the research method in the study. The study sample consisted of 1760 university students studying at 28 different universities. Data were analysed using t-test, ANOVA, and regression methods. As a result of the study, male students were more satisfied with distance education than female students, and education faculty students had the highest level of satisfaction. In addition, self-regulated effort and flexibility variables were significant factors affecting students’ satisfaction towards distance education. Furthermore, the advantages and problems of distance education and suggestions for future distance learning environments were presented in the light of students views. Finally, the study’s implications and various recommendations for practitioners and researchers were discussed in detail.

Background:The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct to non‐surgical periodontal therapy of smoking and non‐smoking patients with moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis. Methods:All 36 systemically healthy patients who were included in the study initially received non‐surgical periodontal therapy. The LLLT group (n = 18) received GaAlAs diode laser therapy as an adjunct to non‐surgical periodontal therapy. A diode laser with a wavelength of 808 nm was used for the LLLT. Energy density of 4 J/cm2was applied to the gingival surface after periodontal treatment on the first, second, and seventh days. Each of the LLLT and control groups was divided into two groups as smoking and non‐smoking patients to investigate the effect of smoking on treatment. Gingival crevicular fluid samples were collected from all patients and clinical parameters were recorded on baseline, the first, third, and sixth months after treatment. Matrix metalloproteinase‐1, tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase‐1, transforming growth factor‐β1, and basic‐fibroblast growth factor levels in the collected gingival crevicular fluid were measured. Results:The primary outcome variable in this study was change in gingival bleeding and inflammation. At all time points, the LLLT group showed significantly more improvement in sulcus bleeding index (SBI), clinical attachment level, and probing depth (PD) levels compared to the control group (P<0.001). There were clinically significant improvements in the laser‐applied smokers' PD and SBI levels compared to smokers to whom a laser was not applied, between the baseline and all time points (P<0.001) (SBI score: control group 1.12, LLLT group 1.49; PD: control group 1.21 mm, LLLT group 1.46 mm, between baseline and 6 months). Transforming growth factor‐β1 levels and the ratio of matrix metalloproteinase‐1 to tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase‐1 decreased significantly in both groups at 1, 3, and 6 months after periodontal therapy (P<0.001). Basic‐fibroblast growth factor levels significantly decreased in both groups in the first month after the treatment, then increased in the third and sixth months (P<0.005). No marker level change showed significant differences between the groups (P<0.05). Conclusion:LLLT as an adjunctive therapy to non‐surgical periodontal treatment improves periodontal healing.

Background:Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause may impact periodontal tissues by altering the host response. There are only a few studies that examined gingival changes during the menstrual cycle. This longitudinal and prospective study aims to investigate clinical and laboratory markers of gingival inflammation in women at different phases during their menstrual cycles. Methods:Twenty‐seven females were included in this study. Subjects were given oral hygiene instructions before the study, and their plaque index scores were recorded once a week for 2 months. The duration and regularity of the menstrual cycle were also checked at the same time. The gingival index and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded. Probing depths were measured to assess the periodontal condition of the subjects. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected to analyze the levels of interleukin (IL)‐1β and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha on the first menstruation day (MD), estimated ovulation day (OD), and estimated predominant progesterone secretion day (PgD). These exact menstrual cycle days were determined according to serum progesterone and estradiol levels. Results:BOP and IL‐1β levels in GCF showed significant increases from the MD to PgD under optimal plaque control. Among the 12 subjects that had premenstrual symptoms, six subjects reported oral complaints during the premenstrual period, whereas apthous lesions were more frequent during the menstruation period. Conclusion:These results demonstrate that the fluctuation of sex steroid hormones impact gingival inflammation during menstruation.

In this study, Turkish secondary school students’ attitudes towards robotics and STEM were examined in terms of gender and robotics experience. Sample consisted of 240 secondary school students (98 females and 142 males; grades 5–7). Two scales were used to collect data: STEM Attitude Scale and Robotics Attitude Scale. The data were analyzed using a One-way MANOVA and through correlational methods. Results show that the students’ attitudes towards robotics and STEM were positive. Gender had no effect on STEM attitudes. However, in terms of robotics attitudes, female students had significantly less desire and less confidence to learn robotics than male students. There was no gender effect on computational thinking and teamwork. Implications were discussed in terms of theoretical insights, practices for educational robotics in STEM, and directions for further research.