An Alternative to traditional laboratory applications in teaching the topic of density in 6th grade: Simulations

The aim of this research is to ensure effective and permanent learning of the learning outcomes of the "Density" topic which 6th-grade students are expected to acquire within the Science course, by using simulation experiments instead of the current educational activities that involve traditional experiments. The sample of the research consists of 52 students studying in the 6th grade of a public school located in the Ulubey district of Ordu Province during the 2022-2023 academic year. The research was conducted by using a pre-test, post-test, and control group quasi-experimental design. In a class determined by random assignment, 26 students formed the experimental group, while the other 26 students in another class constituted the control group. Teaching in the experimental group was carried out using appropriate simulation experiments by the researcher in an interactive learning environment, whereas the control group was taught through laboratory experiments with real materials and activities from the textbook as prescribed by the program. The statistical analyses of the obtained data were conducted using SPSS 26.0. Independent sample t-test and dependent sample t-test were used for data analysis. As a result of the research, when the post-test and retention test scores of both groups were compared with their pre-test scores, a significant increase was observed. Additionally, it was found that the simulation technique used in teaching the topic of density was more effective than traditional laboratory methods in terms of the increase in achievement scores from the pre-test to the post-test in the experimental group. However, it was concluded that simulation-based learning environments might show some deficiencies regarding the permanence of knowledge.