The effect of teaching supported by disaster education center visit, which is one of the out-of-school learning environments in teaching earthquake subject, on the earthquake awareness and knowledge levels of 5th grade middle school students

As technology develops and society changes, it becomes important to include out-of-school learning environments in education to support permanent and meaningful learning. Natural disasters, especially earthquakes, are among the biggest risks in Türkiye, often causing serious loss of life and property. For this reason, raising awareness about disasters from an early age is very important. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of teaching supported by an out-of-school learning environment on 5th grade students' knowledge and awareness about earthquakes. For this purpose, a trip was organized to the Bursa Disaster Education Center. The study group consisted of 26 male students studying in the 5th grade of an imam hatip middle school in Yıldırım district, Bursa, during the 2023–2024 academic year. A mixed-methods design was used. In the quantitative part, a pre-test–post-test quasi-experimental design without a control group was applied. In the qualitative part, structured written questions were given to students before and after the trip, and their written answers were collected. Quantitative data were analyzed with PSPP and Python programs, while qualitative data were examined by content analysis. The quantitative results showed a significant increase in students' general knowledge about earthquakes after the trip. However, there was no significant change in their knowledge about what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. The qualitative results showed that students found the trip interesting, helpful for correcting their misconceptions, and useful for making science lessons easier, more enjoyable, and more lasting. In conclusion, the findings suggest that out-of-school learning environments can be an effective way to teach about earthquakes and to improve students' disaster awareness.