Examining the academic success and skills of 5th grade students in the theme of science, technology and society of the social studies course

This study aims to examine the learner success in the theme of Science, Technology and Society (STS) in the curriculum of 5th grade Social Sciences, digital literacy and self-control skills together with the students' motivation levels in social studies lessons in terms of various variables, and to examine to what degree the digital literacy and self-control skills explain the learner achievement in the domain of STS along with the lesson motivation. In the study, relational screening model which is one of the quantitative methods was used. The sample of the study consists of 742 fifth grade students attending 18 selected secondary schools in Erzincan province during the second semester of the academic year 2017-2018. In this study, a total of five data collection tools were used including 'Personal Information Form (PIF)', 'Science, Technology and Society Learning Area Achievement Test (STSLAAT)', 'Digital Literacy Scale (DLS)', 'Self-Control Scale for Children (SCSC)' and 'Social Studies Lesson Motivation Scale (SSLMS). Data obtained from data collection tools were analysed by using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA test and gradual regression. Results of the study show that the students' success in the theme of STS, digital literacy skills, self-control skills and social studies lesson motivations varied according to various variables. Digital literacy skills, self-control skills, and lesson motivation were found to be significant predictors of student achievement in the field of STS learning. It was determined that digital literacy and self-control skills explained substantially the student achievement in the field of STS learning along with the motivation for the course. It is concluded that the most effective variable in explaining the student achievement in the field of STS learning is the digital literacy skill and the least influential variable is the lesson motivation.