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Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 19, Issue 1, Article 15 (Jun., 2018) |
The impact of project-based learning environments on conceptual understanding: The "Recycling" concept
Tülay Şenel ÇORUHLU* and Sibel Er NAS**
*Trabzon University, Fatih Faculty of Education, Department of Basic Education, Söğütlü/Akçaabat/Trabzon, TURKEY
** Trabzon University, Fatih Faculty of Education, Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Söğütlü/Akçaabat/Trabzon, TURKEY* Corresponding Author's E-mail: tulaysenel41@gmail.com; tsenel@ktu.edu.tr
Received 8 Mar., 2018
Revised 19 Jun., 2018
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of project based learning environments on 4th class students' conceptual understanding of recycling. The case study method was used in this study. The effects of project-supported learning environments on students' conceptual understanding were investigated. The sample group of the study consisted of 18 [10 girls and 8 boys, mean age: 10.78)] grade 4 students in a primary school in Trabzon, Turkey. One voluntary teacher from the same school participated in the research. A conceptual understanding test including 2 open ended questions and semi structured interviews was used in the data collection process. Interviews were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of project based learning environments on the conceptual understanding of students. Semi structured interviews including two questions were carried out. Students were divided into 4 groups at the beginning of the study. Each group developed its own project related to "recycling". The semi structured interview was conducted with 8 voluntary students. The students' conceptual understanding was presented in detail with semi structured interviews. It was seen that seven students' described "recycling" associating with the "papers' missing" in the pre-interview. At the end of the study; it was found that the project based learning environment had a positive effect on 4th grade students' conceptual understanding of recycling (t= -8,695, p<0.05).
Keywords: Recycling concept, conceptual understanding, case study
