Searching the effect of learning by discovery method to the academial success of vacatienal high schools in geometry lesson

This research has been carried out in order to determine the effect of Learning by Discovery Method on academical success of the 9th grade students in vacational schools in geometry classes. The application was carried out in the second half of 2010-2011 academic year.In the research, "pretest-posttest method" was used with a control group. The study was carried out in Mehmet Şam Vocational School, in Sarıyer with the help of 72 students, 36 of whom were experimental group and the other 36 were control group. While geometry activities which were applicable with Learning by Discovery Method were being applied to the experimental group, Direct Method was applied with the control group.Some additional resources were used near MEB's coursebook during the activities that arranged within the borders of acquisitions related with the geometry learning area in the 9th grade geometry curriculum in 2009-2010 academic year which was prepared convenient with Learning by Discovery Apprpach. The activities were limited in 12 hours within the frame of predicted duration. While choosing and preparing activities, convenience of learning circumstances and materials with the group work was considered. Two tests were applied, one was at the beginning and the other was at the end. The data gained from the experimental group and control group were compared. According to the evidences which were acquired at the end, it was proved that learning by discovery method was quite more effective in the success of the 9th grade students in geometry classes than direct method.