مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - The Effects of Modelling Based Science and Technology Teaching on Understanding, Memorization, Creativity and the Mental Models of Primary School Students

Abstract :

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of modelling based teaching methodology, applied to the “Material and Heat” unit of the Science and Technology course, on understanding, memorization levels, creativity and the mental models of sixth grade primary school students. The mixed approach was applied in this research. For the quantitative component of the approach, the group controlled pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental set up, and for the qualitative component, the phenomenal set up, were employed. On the test group, Halloun’s five step modelling cycle of modelling based teaching methodology and on the control group, the 5E model of the constructive approach were applied. Evaluations of the collected quantitative data were conducted employing single-factor covariance analyses (ANCOVA) and the qualitative data were descriptively evaluated according to the phenomenal set up. The results indicate that there is no difference between the test group and the control group in respect to understanding and memorization, but the creativity levels of the test group students were found to be higher. The qualitative dimension of the results of this research indicates modelling based teaching methodology positively affects the mental models of students.