A study on the effect of interactive learning on students success: Radioactivity

IX ABSTRACT In this study, it's aimed to explain the topic of "radioactivity" which takes a part in tenth-year students' curriculum by computer assisted and to search the effects of these methods on students' success and attitudes. Nowadays, the radioactivity progress rapidly, it is interesting, pleasurable and also has to taken under control that consist some process in our schools and the topics transfer is done by classical education method (Chalk and Talk). The material possibilities of our Schools don't authorize to apply the experimental method, which is the main element of the chemistry education and the lack of the audio-visual material in our schools approve this result in a certain time. However, the progress in technology during last 20 years has affected the education methods and the computers had been used intensively in education depending on its introduction in daily life. Because of that, technology support is needed to be used and new searches are needed to be finding while learning the abstract topics like "Radioactivity". There are many researches on computer assisted learning methods and their effects on students' success, attitudes of the students towards lesson and computer have been done In Turkey. It was also carried out how the technology assisted instruction processes affect the other instruction methods. In this study, the effects of teaching "Radioactivity" which takes place in high school curriculum by applying computer assisted and classical education methods were both compared and outlined. The study has been done in 2002-2003 school term. For this aim, radioactivity evaluation test (RDT), chemistry attitude scale (KTÖ), computer attitude scale (BTÖ) is prepared for applying to the students. These scales are used for, comparing the two experimental groups and control group to which was applied classical education. Computer assisted instruction by using interactive material is applied to one of the experimental groups (DG-1). Both computer assisted instruction by using interactive material and classical education are applied to the second experimental group (DG-2). Research results displayed that experimental groups' students (DG-1, DG-2) are more successful in chemistry than the control groups' students (KG). It is seen that, there is more successful results in DG-2 students. In other words, it is seen that, the success level is increased when Computer Assisted Instruction combines with classical education. Also, when it is looked to the students' attitudes towards chemistry and computer, the changes inX students' attitudes are more meaningful and positive who are in experimental groups rather than the students who are in control group. Key Words: Radioactivity, Classical Education (Chalk and Talk), Computer Assisted Instruction, Chemistry Education