Investigation of middle school students' attitudes to science courses after the COVID-19 pandemic

This research aimed to investigate the multidimensional effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the attitudes of middle school students toward science lessons. It used a quantitative research approach. The sample consisted of a total of 1482 6th-8th grade public middle schools in Rize province and its districts. Data were collected with a measurement tool consisting of two parts. In the first part, there are questions about measuring students' science learning experiences and demographic information, and in the second part is a standard measurement tool measuring science attitudes. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 28.0.0.1. (Statistical Packet for Social Sciences) package program. In this process, one-way ANOVA with the Unrelated t-Test was conducted to investigate how the mean attitude scores towards the science course differed according to the independent variables, due to the normal distribution conditions being met. Science courses, as a special learning environment, should be carried out in science laboratories based on experimental study according to special teaching methods. In this context, it has been revealed that attitude scores do not decrease when efforts are made to enrich the science learning experience of students in a way to compensate for face-to-face teaching during the pandemic as in the pre-pandemic period. The fact that the attitude scores of the students who declared that homemade activities were done at home with active participation and simple tools, homework, and homework were higher than the others supported this result.