An Assessment of High School History Textbooks in Turkey: Teachers' and Students' Perceptions.

This study investigates how teachers and students assess the textbooks they use in history courses at the high school level in Turkey. The study included 61 high schools in 23 provinces representing the 7 geographic regions of Turkey. Through a survey questionnaire, teachers and students were asked their perceptions of the textbooks. Then a sub-sample of the teachers and students were interviewed to collect more in-depth data on their assessment of the textbooks. The results indicated that the textbooks assist teachers in instructional planning and in preparing examinations. However, the books were found to be ineffective to some degree in terms of physical aspects, content presentation and organization, language, teaching and learning aids, and impact on students. The textbooks focus mostly on transmission of knowledge. The texts were found to be ineffective in leading students to read the information with an interest, to develop an understanding of the content area, to develop thinking skills, and to foster positive attitudes toward the subject. Includes two tables of data and 14 references. (BT)