The effect of outdoor science activities based on scientific process skills on students' academic success: An example of the pure substances and mixtures unit

In this study, the effects of science activities based on Scientific Process Skills (SSI) carried out in Yozgat Çamlık National Park within the scope of the "Pure Substances and Mixtures" unit of the science course of 7th grade secondary school students were investigated, on their academic achievements and their views on Open Space learning environments. The study group consists of 47 students. 24 of these students (11 boys, 13 girls) constitute the experimental group, and 23 (14 boys, 9 girls) constitute the control group. A pretest-posttest control group quasi-experimental design was used in the study. Activities were organized outside the classroom in Yozgat Çamlık National Park for the students in the experimental group, while the control group was given only in-class science lessons based on the curriculum. Quantitative data were obtained with the "Academic Achievement Test" and applied as pre-test, post-test and follow-up test. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted as a qualitative data collection tool and interviews were held with 7 students from the experimental group. The results of the research show that the practices carried out in the national park resulted in a significant increase in students' views on out-of-school learning environments and their academic success. Follow-up test results reveal that activities carried out in out-of-school learning environments have a lasting impact on students' academic success. The increase in academic success of the experimental group shows that BSB activities can positively affect students' academic performance by enriching their learning experiences. These results emphasize that activities carried out in outdoor environments, beyond the traditional curriculum, can positively affect students' learning experiences. It is recommended to generalize the results by applying similar methods to different subjects in future studies.