The effect of students' and teachers' gender di̇ffrences on academi̇c achi̇vement i̇n the subject "human reproducti̇on, growth and development" of 6th grade sci̇ence course teachers' and students' opi̇ni̇ons

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of students' and teachers' gender difference on academic achievement in the subject "Humans Reproduction, Growth and Development" of 6th grade elementary science course. In this study, an integrated method was used. In the study, a questionnaire was delivered to students and semi-structured interview was performed with teachers with a quasi-experimental design. This study was performed with 6th grade students composed of only boys and girls in the classrooms in 2014-2015 education-years. To conduct the study, four groups were chosen. Two groups as including only girls and other two groups as including only boys were determined. Female teacher who was assigned to one of the groups of composing of only girls (N=24), and male teacher to other group (N=21) taught the subject of "Humans Reproduction, Growth and Development". Similarly male teacher who was assigned to one of the groups of composing of only boys (N=19), and female teacher to other group (N=19) taught the subject of "Humans Reproduction, Growth and Development". To determine the effect of teachers' gender difference on academic achievement in the subject "Humans Reproduction, Growth and Development", the Test Humans Reproduction, Growth and Development Achievement Test (HPGDAT) was used with a pre-test and post-test approach. A questionnaire developed by the researcher was delivered to 78 students and a semi-structured interview was performed with 10 teachers of Science to identify students' and teachers' problems and emotions while the subject "Humans Reproduction, Growth and Development" was being taught. According to results of this study, it was found that there is no significant difference among the groups that composed of students and teachers having the same gender and the groups that composed of students and teachers having the different gender in terms of academic achievement in the subject "Humans Reproduction, Growth and Development". In addition, according to the results of a questionnaire it was found that the students were shy and timid mostly talking with a teacher having an opposite-sex and therefore they could not ask questions (e.g., What are sperm and egg?, Is there any pain in entering puberty?). According to semi-structured interview results with teachers, they used a lecturing method and mostly suggested different solutions to overcome the problems while teaching this subject. In addition, it was found that students perceived this subject as nasty, they were ashamed and they learned, from the teachers having same sex with them more easily emotionally.