The effect of brain-based learning to success and retention in social studies

The present study aims to investigate whether `Brain-Based Learning? has aneffect on academic success and retention. The study was conducted in Şehit Ali GaffarOkkan Elementary School, Eskişehir. The participants of the study were 7th gradestudents in Şehit Ali Gaffar Okkan Elementary School. The data was collected in fallterm in 2004-2005 academic year. Fall semester, with 7th grade students. Participantswere divided into two groups-one as the control group while the other as theexperimental group.In the present study, the following data collection instruments were used; aquestionnaire for biographical information, pre and post- tests that were used to measurethe learners? academic success and retention level, lesson- plans, various teachingmaterials for classroom activities, a questionnaire to gather the learners? perspectives onBrain Based Learning.The data obtained was analysed by a computer programme SPSS. The arithmeticmeans and standard deviations were calculated for each group. The data was subjectedto t-tests for inter- and between- group comparisons. The significance level was .05.The following results were obtained in the present study:1. There was a significant difference between the success of control group andexperimental group, experimental group being more successful than thecontrol group.2. There was a significant difference in how much information is retainedbetween the control group and the experimental group.3. The learners seemed to have positive perspectives on Brain- Based Learning.They seemed to think that Brain- Based Learning provides memorable andenjoyable learning experiences without a need for memorizing content.