The effect of problem based learning method on students' academic achiement and their attitude for physics lesson

In this research, the effect of teaching of "Newton?s Motion Laws" subject which was formed by problem based learning method and traditional teaching on University students' academic achiement and their attitude toward physics was investigated.In this study, control grouped pre-test post-test searching model was used. Model was applied to two groups of students at Dokuz Eylul University, departments of Elementary Mathematics Education and Secondary Chemistry Education in 2007-2008 education year, fall semester.Data are collected using "Dynamic Unit Achiement Test" and "Scale of Attitude Toward Physics".Findings show that, compared to traditional teaching method problem based learning method contributed to academic achiement more,but both methods did not make any change on students' attitude toward physics during the intervestion. Suggestions are made in light of the results.