The effects of computer based geometry programme based on meaningful learning on the academic achievement and retention of learning of primary school fourth grade students

The main purpose of this experimental research is to determine the effects ofcomputer based instruction tutorial (CBIT) method that was designed according tomeaningful learning theory and whole class teaching (WCT) method on the academicachievement and retention of learning in fourth grade mathematics lesson geometry unitby comparing the groups which were taught according to these methods.The research was carried out in Emine Sapmaz Primary School placing in Adanacity Seyhan district in 2005/2006 education year first semester. First, two classroomswere chosen randomly from among the all of the fourth grade classrooms. Second, on ofthese two classrooms was determined as experimental group and the other one ascontrol group. Experimental group consists of 51 students, control group consists of 56students.The geometry lessons of the experimental group were carried out by theresearcher according to the CBIT, besides in the control group the lessons were carriedout by their own teacher according to the TT.ANOVA and ANCOVA were used to analyse data. At the end of the study, asignificant difference was determined between the geometry unit academic achievementlast test scores of experimental and control groups in the favour of experimental group,but a significant difference was not determined between the retention of learning scoresof the groups. Between the academic achievement last test scores of the groups andretention of learning scores of the groups based on the students? sexes and whether theyuse compute in their home or not, a significant difference was not determined.ivKeywords: Meaningful Learning, Computer Based Mathematics Instruction, ComputerBased Instruction Tutorial.