Development of course materials integrating context based approach into 5E model in terms of energy unit for 9th grade secondary students

In this study, it was aimed to develop the course materials integrating context based approach into 5E model based on acquisition of 9th grade secondary physics curriculum and to investigate effectiveness of them on students. A pretest-posttest one group experimental design was used as a research methodology. Student course material and teacher guide were developed integrating context based approach into 5E model. The developed materials were implemented to students by their physics teacher. The sample composed of 83 9th grade students from three different high schools as 30 training at General High School (GL), 30 training at Anadolu High School (AL) and 23 training at Vocational High School (TL). In addition, 3 physics teachers working at these schools participated in the study. Research data were collected by using Energy Unit Conceptual Achievement Test, Physics Attitude Scale, BORAN observation form and semi-structured interviews. Frequency-percent, paired sample t test, ANOVA and ANCOVA were used to analyze the quantitative data and content analysis was conducted on qualitative data. The results indicated that the materials increased students? conceptual achievement. Although the students had some alternative conceptions about energy before the implementations, these were overcome and transformed into scientific conceptions mostly. Moreover, the materials in terms of effect of students? conceptual achievement, showed similar effects on GL group as like other groups. However they were found more effective in the AL group than the TL. It is also revealed that the materials improved students? attitude towards physics such as; giving importance to physics, believing in physics learning and being interested in courses. The implementations made sufficient contribution to the students in terms of understanding the subjects, concreting abstract concept and providing active learning. At the end of the study, some suggestions were made to researchers and educators.