TED University's Teacher+ Model: Innovations in Education

What is TED University's New "Teacher+" Teaching Model and What are its Aims?

Developed by the Faculty of Education at TED University, the "Teacher+" model redefines teaching as a multidimensional profession integrated with technology. This model aims to prepare teacher candidates for the future of education by enabling them to engage in practical studies in areas such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), learning analytics, and digital education design. The main goal of the model is to move the teacher beyond the role of merely transmitting information, and instead transform them into an expert who designs and manages learning processes. In this way, teachers will be able to better respond to students' individual needs and make learning more effective. As a practical example for teachers, a science teacher could use AR technology to present the solar system to students in an interactive way. Students can examine a 3D model of the solar system from their seats, see the features of the planets more closely, and enrich their learning experiences. Similarly, a mathematics teacher can use VR technology to immerse students in geometric shapes, allowing them to experience these shapes from different angles and thus concretize abstract concepts.

What Innovations Does This Model Bring to the Teacher Training System in Turkey?

TED University's "Teacher+" model brings significant innovations to the teacher training system in Turkey. First, it aims to improve the digital skills of teacher candidates by focusing on technology integration. In this way, teachers will not only be able to use existing technologies but also design new technologies and integrate them into educational processes. Secondly, by providing teachers with competencies in areas such as data analytics and learning analytics, it enables them to better understand students' learning processes and offer personalized learning experiences. Thirdly, by defining teaching not only as an in-class role but also as a multidimensional profession that includes digital leadership and design skills, it expands teachers' career opportunities. For example, a classroom teacher can use learning analytics tools to identify which topics their students are struggling with and develop additional materials or different teaching methods accordingly. Similarly, a literature teacher can analyze students' written texts using AI-powered tools to help them improve their writing skills. In this way, teachers can manage students' learning processes more effectively by making data-driven decisions.

What is the Role of Technology in Learning Engineering?

As stated by Prof. Dr. Kürşat Çağıltay, Dean of the Faculty of Education at TED University, "Technology is not an accessory for us; it is the lever of learning engineering." This statement emphasizes the critical role technology plays in improving and transforming learning processes. In the learning engineering approach, technology is seen as a tool that helps teachers design, manage, and continuously improve learning environments. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, AR, VR, learning analytics, and digital education design enable teachers to better respond to students' individual needs, make learning more effective, and increase students' motivation. For example, a geography teacher can use virtual reality to take students on virtual tours of different regions of the world, allowing them to experience different cultures and geographical features. Similarly, a history teacher can use augmented reality to recreate historical events, allowing students to interact with historical figures and make learning more engaging. In this way, technology can transform learning from simply theoretical knowledge transfer to an interactive and experiential process.

What Career Opportunities Does the "Teacher+" Model Offer to Graduates?

The "Teacher+" model offers graduates career opportunities not only in schools but also in educational technology companies, international organizations, corporate academies, and R&D centers. The model aims to train teacher candidates as professionals who establish, manage, and continuously improve digital learning environments. In this way, graduates will be able to take on different roles in the education sector and develop innovative solutions in the field of education. For example, a teacher candidate trained with the "Teacher+" model can develop educational software at an educational technology company, work on educational projects at an international organization, design employee training at a corporate academy, or conduct research on new educational technologies at an R&D center. This model aims to maximize the potential of graduates by moving teaching beyond just an in-class profession and opening it up to a wide range of career options.

EdTech Turkey Commentary

TED University's "Teacher+" model appears to be a significant contribution to the teacher training system in Turkey. The most remarkable aspects of the model are its focus on technology integration to improve teachers' digital skills and offer them new career opportunities. This approach is expected to enhance the quality of education by making future educators more equipped.