An examination of the effects of project based education programs on the social adaptation and social skills of five- and six-year-old children attending pre-school

An Examination of the Effects of Project Based Education Programs on the Social Adaptation and Social Skills of Five- and Six-Year-Old Children Attending Pre- School Kurt, Fusun Master's Program, Child Development and Education Department Thesis Advisor: Assoc. Yard.Do§. Dr. Adalet KANDIR April-2007 This study aims to examine the effects of project based education programs on the social adaptation and social skills of five- and six-year-old children attending pre-school. The study sample comprised 23 children in the experimental group, 23 children in control I group and 23 children in control II group. The children in the experimental group were given project based education programs 2 hours per week for 23 weeks. Ordinary daily education was used in control I and control II groups. Data was collected with "Personal Information Form" and "Social Adaptation and Skills Scale". The results yielded a significant difference in the social adaptation and skills of the children in the experimental group who received project based education a meaningful difference was detected in the Spcial Adaptation and Skills Scale and all its sub-factors (p<.05). In children's social adaptation and skills, gender was found to create a meaningful difference in the experimental group's post-test averages whereas having been to a pre-school institution created a meaningful difference in pre-test averages (p<.05). Post-test points did not yield any statistically significant difference (p>.05). In line with these findings, it may be argued that education programs that support children's social adaptation and skills may be enriched with activities to promote these skills and fortify children with the abilities of identifying, acquiring and implementing social skills. Key Words: Social Adaptation, Social Skills, Pre-School Education Program, Project Based Education Programs.