Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Faculty of Education hosted İstanbul University, Hasan Ali Yücel Education Faculty academic staff member Assist. Prof. Dr. Gamze İnan Kaya within the scope of the “6th International Career Week” organized in collaboration with EMU Alumni and Career Research Directorate (MİKA) and, academic staff and specialists of EMU.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Gamze İnan Kaya arose the audience’s interest by asking three interesting questions at the beginning of her speech and touched on the state of curiosity related to the unknown by stating that curiosity and interest have a role in the field of education. Mentioning about the need of curiosity and interest in education and also the views of pedagogues and psychologists dealing with the matter (John Dewey, William James and Daniel Berlyne), Assist Prof. Dr. Kaya emphasized the relation between curiosity, interest and learning. Students with an interest towards to the matter tend to make more effort, are willing and zealous to achieve their goals.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Kaya adverted to time and individual differences in addition to curiosity and interest. Kaya explained that it is not always possible to obtain same level of interest within a group of students due to time and individual differences. Cognitive standards were also touched upon during the speech. According to Assist. Prof. Dr. Kaya, individuals analyze the new circumstances if they benefit from or not, then are willing to do whatever it takes to reach their goal if they believe it is for their best interest.
Stating that students keen on matters not related to school, do not show the same interest about the in school matters, Assist. Prof. Dr. Kaya explained that the interest of students should be kept alive and should be directed truthfully. A thank you plaque was presented to Assist. Prof. Dr. Kaya at the end of the speech.