Applications of context-based learning in primary 4th class science and technology course

On the 21st century, the aim of the education is to teach individuals how to research, to query, to criticize and the most importantly to learn through life and to take responsibility on learning. One way of achieving this goal is to use approaches for making students to be active learners. Hereby one of these approaches is context based learning. Context based learning is an approach that associating casual life contexts to lesson subjects. The aim of Science and Technology lesson is to educate individuals' questioning skills by teaching to learn and improving thinking skills. Context based learning has emphasized making teaching-learning process active, enabling students to reflect experiences, getting subjects reflecting casual life and making it possible them applying to casual life. These features contribute the development of students through the purpose of Science and Technology lesson. The purpose of this research was to determine how activities that is designed based on REACT model of contextual learning affect on learning process in 4th grade Science and Technology lesson. The research has been conducted using embedded mixed method that is the combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods. Participants of this research were 18 students of the class 4/G of Eskişehir Ülkü Primary School. The research was conducted in fall semester of 2014-2015 academic year. REACT model of contextual learning was implemented during 21 course sessions in lesson unit named "Lets Solve the Enigma of the Body". The research data collected using 'academic achievement test', 'scientific attitude scale', 'motivation scale against science', 'semi-structured interviews' and 'classroom observations'. The quantitative data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics and the qualitative data was analyzed by content analysis. Findings of the research were interpreted according to the research questions. The results based on the research findings are: • Context based learning approach REACT model practice had statistically significant effect on the academic success and retention of students. • Context based learning approach REACT model practice had not statically significant effect on scientific attitude of students. • Context based learning approach REACT model practice had statically significant effect on the motivation on Science and Technology of students. • As it could be seen in the video recordings, REACT model provided benefits for context-topic relations and to associate casual life and career development. • REACT model improved the attitude on Science and Technology Course, improved motivation and developed scientific process skills of the students. REACT model affected positively, observing, classifying and modelling skills of the students concerning their scientific process skill. • The students liked the activities done with REACT model which consist of vivisection of chicken, making robot, lung model, respiration model and statoscope using and contributed their learning. It has ben observed that they attended activities densely and enjoyed them. • Classroom teacher declared that income of the families, absenteeism of students and resources of the school are the problems of the process of Context based learning REACT model. Students stated that it was hard for them to learn some topics and to achieve some activities. • Concerning the REACT model practices, teacher suggested that doing more activities, increasing attendance and readiness, redirecting to research, and providing family support are needed. Moreover students suggested that listening music and drawing models were also added to activities during the implementation. Key Words: Science and Technology, context-based learning, achievement test, scientific attitude, motivation.