The effect of using humour and concept cartoons on students' achievement, attitude, anxiety and retention in 9th grade ict lesson

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of using humour and concept cartoons in 9th grade ICT lesson on students' academic achievement, attitude toward the lesson, anxiety about the lesson and retention of knowledge. A pre-test, post-test quasi-experimental design was employed in the study. Sixty students (30 for each), who were attending to the Ahmet Çallıoğlu Multi Programmed High School in Aydın, İncirliova county in 2013-2014 academic year, involved in experimental and control groups equally. The instructional process within the 'Basic Concepts of Information Technology' unit lasted for seven weeks for both experimental and control groups. While the control group received the lessons according to formal curriculum as was indicated and declared by the Ministry of National Education, the experimental group's lessons were always supported by concept cartoons and sets of humor. Both groups received academic achievement tests and attitude scales toward the lesson at the beginning and the end of the instruction. Besides, the students in both groups also received a permanency test six weeks later than the instruction. Data collected was analyzed through SPSS 15.0. The results showed that implementing humor and concept cartoons in 9th grade ICT lesson increased the success of students and attitude toward the lesson, decreased the anxiety level of the students, and also affected the retention of knowledge positively.