Effectiveness of technological design on elementary student teachers' understanding of air resistance, gravity, terminal velocity and acceleration: Model parachute race activity

In this study, we tried to determine the effect of a “Model Parachute Race” activity on elementary student teachers' levels of understanding of concepts such as air resistance, gravity, terminal velocity and acceleration through a qualitative methodology. In this context, elementary student teachers' levels of understanding concepts were determined before and after the activity and change were revealed through analyzing the difference between them.

Objective of “Model Parachute Race” Activity

The “Model Parachute Race” activity aimed for elementary student teachers to develop a model and a parachute that could remain in the air for a long time by using technological design stages and concepts such as Air Resistance, Gravity, Terminal Velocity and Acceleration. In this scope, it was aimed at contributing to elementary student teachers' understanding of technological design stages, enabling elementary student teachers to understand concepts of Air Resistance, Gravity, Terminal Velocity and Acceleration that have an impact on remaining of parachute in the air, and enabling elementary student teachers to gain an experience in the process of making a technological design.

Participants of “Model Parachute Race” Activity

Participants of this study were 39 second grade elementary student teachers studying at Fatih Faculty of Education Department of Primary Education Classroom Teaching in Karadeniz Technical University, Turkey. This study was carried out for 12 weeks within the scope of the lesson of Science and Technology –Laboratory Practice-II during the 2009–2010 spring semesters. The teachers making up the sample were divided into 7 groups, and each group elected their own group representative.

Steps Followed in Instructions of “Model Parachute Race” Activity

The 1st week

Elementary student teachers are divided into 7 groups each of which consists of 5-6 students, and one speaker is elected for each group,
Objective, rules and assessment criteria of “Model Parachute Race” activity are distributed to elementary student teachers,
Technological design stages are expressed,
A website was prepared for establishing an effective communication with students also outside the lessons (www.fenegitimi.com/parasut) is introduced.

The 2nd week-The 11th week

Elementary student teachers develop their model parachutes through technological design stages,

The 12th week

The report introducing the developed model parachutes is written and presented, and model parachutes are raced.

Fig. l: Steps followed in the research process