The effects of activities about knowing our body unit to students 'success, scientific process skills, attitudes

Abstract

In this study was intended to investigate the activities of the unit “Meet Our Body” in the Science and Tecnology course of the fourth grade in primary school education and whether there is a significant difference between this unit and the alternative activities designed by the researchers for the unit in terms of the accesablity of the target behaviours. In the study, both survey model and experimental model have been used. First, the opinions and suggestions of 50 primary education class teachers in Bursa regarding the current curriculum was handled. Then, development activities designed by the researchers was applied on the sample group consisting of 70 fourth grade students. The applications, which were planned as three hours per week, lasted 6 weeks in 2010- 2011 academic year spring term. The Unit Achievement Tests, The Teacher Curriculum Sight Survey, The Scientific Process Skills Scales, The Teacher Activity Assessment Survey and developed by the researchers and The Attitude Scale Towards Science and Tecnology Courses were used as data collection instruments in the present study. In the data analysis, the SPSS 11.5 statistics program was used and mean score, frequency, percentage, standard deviation, variance and t-test calculations through this program. Consequently, it was found that the alternative activities are more efficiently than unit activities on solving the basic problems the matter of time and the crowded classes. Furthermore, it was found that the alternative activities are more efficiently than unit activities on students’ achievements, attitudes towards to Science and Tecnology and the development of scientific process skills. It is thought of that, the development activity designs are assisted the usage of the Science and Technology education curriculum more efficiently. Keywords: Curriculum development, science education, activity, attitude, scientific process skill