The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is a significant effect of project based learning approach on seventh grade students' academic achievement in the structure and properties of matter. In the study, according to the characteristics of quantitative research methods, pretest-posttest control group quasi-experimental design was used to test the effect of project-based learning and traditional methods on seventh grade students' academic achievement. Convenience sampling was preferred and 38 students participated in this study. The structure and properties of matter achievement test, lesson plans, and observation checklist were used as data collection instruments. In order to analyze the data obtained from the structure and properties of matter achievement test, independent samples t-test was performed. Based on the results, there is no significant difference between the experimental and control groups' scores which is obtained from their "Achievement test" post-test performance. Discussions based on literature were carried out and suggestions were performed as pre-activities based on project based learning should be performed for the adaptation of students and teachers before treatment.

Öz. Bu çalışmanın amacı fen bilimleri öğretmenlerinin STEM ve STEM temelli ders etkinliklerine yönelik görüşlerini ortaya çıkarmaktır. Çalışma nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden fenomenoloji deseni ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmaya Kayseri ilinde bulunan üç farklı ortaokulda görev yapan beş fen bilimleri öğretmeni katılmıştır. Katılımcılardan biri kadın diğerleri erkek öğretmenlerdir. Araştırmada veriler, yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme kullanılarak dört gün boyunca toplanmıştır. Toplanan veriler içerik analiziyle analiz edilmiştir. Yapılan görüşmelerde öğretmenlerin STEM temelli etkinlikleri fen alanlarından özellikle fizik alanı ile bağdaştırdıkları ve fizik konularına uygun olarak gördükleri, fen dersi ile teknoloji, mühendislik ve matematik arasında bir ilişki olduğunu düşündükleri belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, STEM temelli dersleri uygulamak istedikleri ancak zaman ve malzeme sıkıntısı açılarından bu durumu yapamadıklarını savunmuşlardır. Elde edilen sonuçlardan yola çıkılarak; STEM ve STEM temelli ders etkinlikleri ile ilgili verilen eğitimlerin sayısı arttırılmalı ve eğitimlerin içeriği/ kapsamı genişletilmelidir. Ayrıca eğitim sonrasında da öğretmenlerle iletişim kesilmemeli ve onların farklı konularda yaşayabilecekleri sıkıntılar noktasında destek olunmalı şeklinde önerilerde bulunulmuştur.Anahtar Kelimeler: STEM temelli ders etkinlikleri, nitel araştırma, fenomenoloji, yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme Abstract. The purpose of this study was to examine the views of science teachers who trained about STEM regarding the STEM and STEM based activities. The research method of this study is the qualitative research method. The design of this study is the phenomenology. Purposive sampling methodology has been chosen for this study. Therefore, participants were the five science teachers who trained about STEM in advance. These teachers are working in three different secondary schools in Kayseri, Turkey and were randomly selected as a volunteer. While one participant was female, other four participants were male. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was executed by content analysis. Based on the results, participants mentioned that STEM based activities should be applied at the physics topics best. Participants also thought that there is a relationship between science and technology, engineering, and mathematics. Moreover, all participants stated that they have some disadvantages in using the STEM based instruction in terms of time and material. As suggestions, the number of education regarding STEM based activities should be increased. Moreover, the content of this education regarding the STEM should be expanded. In addition, teachers should be supported in terms of their problems about the STEM.

This study aimed to explore pre-service chemistry teachers' beliefs about constructivism and the influence of their beliefs in their teaching practice. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews were carried out with eight pre-service teachers in order to understand their belief structures. Pre-service teachers' beliefs about constructivism were classified in three categories which are weak, moderate, and strong conceptions of constructivism. For detailed exploration, three cases of pre-service teachers representing these three categories were selected. The findings of this study showed that most preservice teachers in this study did not have a strong conception of constructivism and the relationship between the pre-service teachers' beliefs and their practice was not clear-cut.

No abstract

No abstract