Questioning the application rates of the biology experiments in the curriculum of the first class of the high school, due to the teachers' views

11 ABSTRACT In this study, availability of the experiments curriculum for the biology lessons in high schools (for the 9-year students) has been searched. In the research, a free response questionnaire which consists open-ended and controlled questions was prepared as a measurement device. The questionnaire was earned out by 50 biology teachers from 9 different high schools in the spring term of the Education year in 2004. The students gave answers to the questionnaire. Their answers were evaluated and the availability of the experiments in the curriculum for the biology lessons in the high schools was examined. Also, the experiments which could not be done in the lessons and the reasons of this unsuccessfulness were found out. The results of the research are as in the fallowings: The classed are overcrowded, the unsufficient use of the materials. In addition to this, biology lessons in the hTgh schools are only two hours per a week. Such a limited time is not enough for the students expected to learn science in school. Laboratuary materials are so poor that it does not enable the students to do all the experiments in the book. Another reason for the students' unsuccessfulness in the science lessons is that they are not motivated enough to learn the subjects in the biology books. Also, they are not willing to participate in the class activities. The samples (living, non-living) which are used in the biological experiments are so insufficient. Key Words: Biological Experiments, Laboratuary Method, Free Response Questionnaire, Education of Biology.