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A Cross-Cultural Study: Middle School Students' Beliefs About Matter, Mary B. Nakhleh, Ala Samarapungavan, Yilmaz Saglam, Erdine Duru

Essays in Education

Turkish middle school students’ understanding of the nature of matter was examined and compared to those of US counterparts. Sixteen Turkish middle school students were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The interview explored students’ understanding of the particulate nature of matter in three areas: (1) the composition of the substances; (2) the relationship between particulate structure and macroscopic properties; (3) the relationship between particulate structure and processes. The results indicated that many of the middle school students interviewed could state that matter was composed of atoms. However, the majority of them were not able to use this understanding to …

Development And Current Status Of Science Education Research In Turkey, Mustafa Sozbilir, Hulya Kutu

Essays in Education

The aim of this study is to determine the status and the trends of subject matters investigated, research methods/design and data analyses procedures used in science education research papers published in Turkey. Data were obtained from 413 papers concerning science education from 28 different journals publishing educational research in Turkey. Each paper was subjected to a content analysis in terms of the subject studied, the research design/method and data analysis methods used according to the Paper Classification Form (PCF) developed by the first author. This document analysis has showed that although the science education research is a new research enterprise …

Trends In Turkish Science Education, Muammer Calik, Suat Unal, Bayram Costu, Faik Ozgur Karatas

Essays in Education

The aim of the study is to determine the trends in Turkish Science Education on the basis of both master and doctoral theses involved. The researchers reviewed the online databases of the Higher Education Council and Proquest as well as the web page of graduate school of each university in Turkey which presents thesis archieve and investigated 444 graduate theses abstracts/fulltexts in regard to their created matrix (Year, Research Interest, Research Methodology and Sample). The document analysis has pointed out that in terms of research interest two general trends are apparent in Turkish science education research: (1) introducing science education …

Turkish Prospective Teachers Perspective Of Different Types Of Exams: Multiple Choice, Essay And Computerized-Type Testing, Neset Demirci

Essays in Education

The major aim of this study was to compare prospective teachers’ attitudes and natures toward teacher-made essay, multiple-choice type versus computerized-type exams. The primary study was conducted on a sample of 393 prospective teachers (specifically, students from 33 physics education, 93 science education, 66 computer education, and 201 elementary education departments) at Necatibey Faculty of Education, in Balıkesir, Turkey who were administered a test attitude inventory specifically designed to assess prospective teachers’ attitudes toward essay, multiple choice versus computerized type formats on a variety of critical dimensions. The data from study was pointing to more favorable prospective teachers’ attitudes towards …

Reflections Of The Understanding Of Assessment Adopted In The 4th And 5th Grade Science And Technology Curriculum In Textbooks, Zekeriya Nartgun

Essays in Education

The purpose of this study is to determine to what extent the understanding of assessment adopted in the renewed Primary Education 4th and 5th grade Science and Technology Curriculum is reflected in textbooks – student course books, student workbooks and teachers’ books- prepared by the related publishers and approved for use by the Turkish Republic of Ministry of National Education. The research is a qualitative study based on a document analysis. The analysis in the curriculum revealed that the understanding of assessment of the curriculum focused on “diversity in measurement techniques”, “multi-purpose use of measurement results” and “continuity in measurement …

An Investigation Of Some Factors Affecting Attitudes Toward Chemistry In University Education, Mustafa Ozden

Essays in Education

This is a study that explores university student attitudes toward chemistry who were taking an introductory chemistry course. Participants included freshmen enrolled in either a science teacher training program, an elementary school teacher training program or a mathematics teacher training program. 627 students were chosen from four different Education Faculties of Adıyaman, İnönü, Anadolu and Gazi University in Turkey. 348 subjects were male and 279 subjects were female students. The research instrument used 20 statements measuring students’ attitudes toward chemistry. Gender and study specialization differences in students’ attitudes toward chemistry were examined. It was found male students have more positive …

Perceptions Of Primary School Teachers Regarding New Science And Technology Curriculum Of Turkey In Terms Of Teaching And Assessment Methods, Pinar Ozdemir, Sibel Guneysu

Essays in Education

The purpose of this study was to explore and investigate perceptions of the primary school teachers’ in 4th and 5th grade public schools on new science and technology curriculum in science and technology classes in Turkey. Whether primary school teachers familiar with the improvements in science and technology curriculum and whether they feel themselves adequate in terms of theoretical knowledge and application of the new approaches in science and technology lessons were also investigated.

The research type of this study includes survey and qualitative research in nature which are non-experimental research methods. The quantitative part of this study includes questionnaire …