PERFORMANCE TASK ASSESSMENT ABOUT NATURE HIKING IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY COURSE

The purpose of this study is to assess the performance tasks on hiking given in physical education and science and technology courses. A performance task, prepared by physical education and science and technology teachers, was given to 390 6th and 7th graders and 283 of them completed the task. The students were asked to walk fast in the nature on three different days, a total of 3 rounds of 10 minutes each, which means 30 minutes in total and also were asked to rest for ten minutes between each walk. Moreover, each student was given a written task itemizing what he/she had to do during the breaks. Students were asked to walk briskly and perform the tasks during the breaks. During the physical education lesson done in the classrooms, first the performance task was explained to the students, and then they were taught how to check pulse. Next, students walked briskly in the garden and practiced the things they had to do during the 10-minute relaxation breaks. The students were asked to fulfil the task within a period of one month and present the posters, showing the place, time and the rounds in detail and also including the photographs taken and the notes taken down during walking sessions, prepared separately for physical education and science and technology lessons in the classroom. The best three posters of each class were selected by the teachers. The selected three posters were exhibited on the boards for a week for other students to look at. Students who failed to deliver their posters on time were evaluated separately. The performance task gave the students the opportunity to combine and apply the knowledge gained through physical education and science and technology lessons. Moreover, it was observed that the students both developed their psychomotor skills and had cognitive and affective gains during the preparation and presentation of their posters. Students understood the importance of sport for a healthy life while hiking in the nature.