Determining the material usage perspectives of classroomteachers in public and private schools in life science courseinstruction

The Life Science course is a fundamental subject aimed at helping primary school students learn about their environment, social rules, and essential life knowledge. Instructional materials used in this course are indispensable to the learning process, as students are in the concrete operational stage. Visual and auditory materials enhance comprehension and retention of knowledge while increasing students' interest in learning. In this context, the effective use of materials in Life Science education is of critical importance in improving the quality of education and fostering students' daily life skills. This study was conducted to determine the level of material usage by classroom teachers in Life Science course instruction. The research examined the material usage levels of teachers working in public and private schools and provided recommendations based on the findings. A qualitative research method was employed in the study. A survey was prepared for 116 classroom teachers, and responses were received from 91 participants. Through this survey, teachers' perspectives on material usage were evaluated. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program. In the interview phase, individual interviews were conducted with 10 teachers, while 20 teachers provided responses through a structured form. These interviews were analyzed using content analysis. The study group consisted of teachers working in public and private schools in Antalya during the 2023-2024 academic year. In total, data were collected from 121 participants. The findings of the study revealed that: Classroom teachers place significant importance on the use of materials in Life Science course instruction. Teachers utilize various tools, equipment, and resources in their teaching. Instructional materials are most frequently used during the introduction phase of lessons. A majority of teachers demonstrate limited involvement in creating their own materials and predominantly rely on ready-made materials.