Designing Instructional Materials for

Teaching Surahs and Duas for

Elementary School Students in Turkey

Abstract
After the changes in educational system of Turkey in 2012,
optional Quran courses have been made available to all
students in elementary schools. Religious Culture and Moral
Education course requires students to learn short surahs and
duas for prayer and their Turkish meanings. However,
teaching/learning these surahs and duas, teachers and
students face many difficulties.
Because of this, an instructional material was designed to
help students learn short surahs and duas for prayer.
Elementary school students
development level and features of interactive whiteboards
were considered while designing the software.

Introduction
Recently technology has been changing dramatically. it is
unavoidable for educators to use modern teaching methods
while teaching Quran to Muslim children. However, in centers
where Quran is taught, traditional teaching methods are being
used.
The existing software for Quran has the aim of only
storage, listening and searching and is designed for adults. In
Turkey, elementary school students have to memorize prayer
surahs. To this end, this study aims to share a design process
of educational software that helps elementary school students
learn those surahs.

Theoretical Framework
A. Computer-Based Education
. use of computers in every aspects of teaching and learning.
. includes repetition, problem solving, practicing and similar
approaches.
. Beneficial
It enhances long term memory
With the support of graphics, animations, videos and
sounds, it facilitates teaching
It allows students to control themselves as well as
educators to follow up with their students progress

B. Computer Based Education in Turkey

When considering the level of technology integration in

education, it is seen that almost all schools have a
computer lab and almost 96% of them have Internet
connection.

C. Quran Education in Turkey

There exist private courses in Turkey where people get

Quran education (provide religious education to all ages).
In addition to these high schools and private courses,
students take some religious courses in elementary
education( Religious Education and Ethics).
Since2012, there is another optional course for elementary
school students which is related to Quran education.

D. Duas and Suras Education in REE

In Religious Education and Ethics (REE), students learn culture,

ethics and moral education. Also, short duas and suras for
worship in Arabic and with their Turkish meaning are taught.
In his study, Cinar found out that 61 % of teachers face issues
when teaching those duas and suras.
Limited course hours
Students illiteracy in Arabic
Use of limited number of teaching methods

Computer based education in REE course can provide

multimedia opportunities for teachers and students.
Students
can enhance their duas and surahs learning with
hypertexts,
animations, sounds, and videos.

E. Designing Instructional Materials for Teaching

Quran and Surahs
Kellers the ARCS Motivational Design Model (improvement and
sustainment of motivation in the learning process)
Attention
Relevance
Confidence
Satisfaction
ARCS Model as instructional model:
Knowing and identifying elements of human motivation
Analyzing audience characteristics to determine
motivational requirements
Identifying characteristics of instructional materials that
stimulate motivation
Selecting appropriate motivational tactics
Applying and evaluating appropriate tactics.

F. Use of Interactive Whiteboard

students and teachers control electronic materials from the

board by touching their fingers or using a special pen called
as stylus.
Increase learners performance and motivation
Features:
annotation and highlighting important points,
mouse operations (drag and drop, single or double click,
selection etc.),
hiding and revealing objects,
coloring to distinguish different items,
controlling display of animations/videos/other software (such
as PowerPoint, Word, Flash etc.), etc.

Samples of Designed
Materials

Figure 1. Speaker Selection Screen

Figure 2. Main Menu Screen

Figure 3. Surahs and Their Meaning Main Menu Screen

Figure 4. Sample Surah and Its Meaning Screen

Figure 5. An Exercise Screen on Double Fatha Vowels

Figure 6. Reading Fatiha Verse by Verse

Figure 7. Drag and Drop Activities Screen

Conclusion
ARCS motivational model was selected in the design
process of materials in order to increase students motivation
levels .With the designed materials, students can listen to the
pronunciation of Arabic letters and verses of surahs and duas.
In addition, students can easily learn surahs and duas by
means of various activities that can be used over interactive
whiteboards (IWBs).