The effect of project-based learning in Science and Technology at primary school on scientific process skills, success and attitude

This research has been conducted to investigate the effect of project-based learning at 6th grade primary school students on their attitudes towards scientific process skills, biology topics, and success in Science and Technology course.Pre-test post-test design with control group has been used in the research. 76 primary 6th grade students chosen by Çanakkale provincial directorate for national education from four primary schools (Gazi, Cumhuriyet, Onsekiz Mart and Arıburun Primary Schools) have participated to the research in 2009-2010 education-teaching years. Experimental and control groups have been determined objectively.A seminar named ?how a project is done?? delivered to the experimental group students at the beginning of the year. At the end of the seminar pre-tests used in the research have been applied. After study programmes had been prepared for students at experimental group, students created their statements of the problem about the project they would realize. Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Education Biology Laboratory has been used for testing apparatus. Students finishing their measurements, delivered presentations after preparing their posters at Science Festival at the end of the term. Post-tests have been applied after the process is over.Pre-post tests were applied to the control group students at the beginning and end of the term. Control group students have not attended Project-Based Learning Applications. They continued their usual education-teaching process.?Scientific Process Skills Test?, ?Science and Technology Attitude Scale? and ?Science and Technology Achievement Test? have been used as a means of gathering data in the research. Related and non-related sample t-tests have been used in pre-post tests data. SPSS 17.0 Package Program has been used in the evaluation of the data. Data have been analyzed at 95% meaningfulness level. In the light of the findings it has been concluded that Project-based learning contributes to the scientific process skills and attitudes towards Science and Technology of the students.Key Words: Science and Technology Teaching, Primary Education, Project-Based Learning, Scientific Process Skills, Attitude, Achievement.