Developing worksheets based on constructivism in mathematics education

iii ABSTRACT According to the learner-centered learning theories, a sophisticated people know how to reach knowledge, learn by giving meaning to information, produce new knowledge by using pre-knowledge and use their knowledge during problem solving processes. Therefore, learner-centered learning theories should be used to educate people expected to have sophisticated people skills. The permanent learning is achieved by preparing learning environments providing students to be active in classroom activities. Worksheets can be used while we design active learning environments. The purpose of this study is to prepare learner-centered worksheets which are based on constructivist approach and to investigate how the lesson will affect students' achievement in mathematics education. After the worksheets were prepared, the researcher interviewed with 3 academicians and 5 teachers to understand the whether or not the content is appropriate for the student level and whether or not the given directions is appropriate, so emerged problems were restored. The study is conducted in the Namık Kemal and Talatpaşa Elementary Schools under responsibility of Ankara Governorship. 48 students in the Namık Kemal Elementary School and 37 students in the Talatpaşa Elementary School participated to the study. This study was based on experimental design and controlled pre-post test model was used. To conduct statistical analyses, SPSS software was used. Two different control and treatment groups were composed in two schools. Whether or not these groups is the same is tested by the Mann Whitney-U test, one of the non parametric tests.IV Whether or not there is a significant difference between the groups is also analyzed by the Mann Whitney-U test. According to the result of the statistical analyses, the lessons conducted with the worksheets based on constructivist learning style increased student achievement if it is comparing with the conventional education. Therefore, in the results of the study it can be said that this kind of learning environments should be designed for the other subjects of Mathematics.