THE EFFECT OF PROBLEM BASED LEARNING APPROACH IN SCIENCE EDUCATION ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COURSE

The purpose of this research is to determine the effectiveness of problem-based learningapproaches in science education. Towards this aim, the effect of problem-based learningapproach on 6th grade students’ academic achievement about “Matter and Heat” unit in scienceand technology course, and attitudes toward science and technology course were investigated.In this research pretest-posttest control group experimental design was used. Theexperimental group was taught by problem based learning approach while the control groupwas taught by traditional instruction, according to the science and technology curriculum.In the study according to the pretest-posttest control group experimental design model;Matter and Heat Unit Academic Achievement Test, and Attitudes Towards Science andTechnology Course Scale were administered before and after the instructional interventions.According to the results of this study, the instruction of “matter and heat” unit with problembased learning approach was positively affected students’ academic achievement, and attitudestowards science and technology course. Regarding the results of the study, suggestions weremade for future scientific researches and implementations of the problem based learningapproach.