Predictors of lifelong learning: Information literacy and academic self-efficacy

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine whether the prospective teachers' information literacy levels and academic self-efficacy perceptions predict their lifelong learning tendencies. This research was conducted with 500 prospective teachers studying at Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Education. In this study, ‘Lifelong Learning Tendencies Scale’ developed by Gur-Erdogan and Arsal (2016), ‘Information Literacy Scale’ developed by Adiguzel (2011) and ‘Academic Self-efficacy Scale’ adapted into Turkish by Yilmaz, Gurcay and Ekici (2007) were used for data collection. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation), Pearson Product Moments Correlation Coefficient and stepwise regression analysis. As a result, it was concluded that prospective teachers' lifelong learning tendencies, information literacy and academic self-efficacy were at a high level, and there is a moderate, positive and significant relationship between prospective teachers’ lifelong learning tendencies, information literacy and academic self-efficacy. Furthermore, it was concluded that prospective teachers’ information literacy and academic self-efficacy are significant predictors of their lifelong learning tendencies and they can explain 41% of the variance in lifelong learning tendencies.

Keywords: Lifelong learning, information literacy, academic self-efficacy, prospective teachers.