Barriers to ITC integration into teachers' classroom practices: Lessons from a case study on social studies teachers in Turkey

This study analyses the difficulties and obstacles faced by teachers of social studies education while using ICT-based teaching equipment and methods in their classes. Although ICT-based equipment and methods create important opportunities for the development of teaching, the literature shows that the ICT integration into teachers' classroom practices is not at the desired level. The study aims to use case study methods to analyze the reasons underlying this situation. Eighteen teachers of social studies education participated in the study. Classroom observation and semi-structured interview were used as data collection methods. According to the results of the study, the main barriers against the use of ICT-based methods and equipment in teachers' instructional practices are lack of ICT equipment in classrooms, lack of ICT-based teaching resources, the effect of traditional approaches on teachers' practices, inadequacies regarding in-service teacher training and lack of time. © IDOSI Publications, 2012.