Augmented reality in science education: Academic success, anxiety and cognitive load levels of secondary school 7th students

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of the use of AR applications on the Academic Success, Anxiety and Cognitive Load levels of the 7th grade students within the scope of the "Solar System and Beyond" unit and to reveal the thoughts of the students. This study was carried out in the fall semester of the 2022-2023 academic year with the 7/A and 7/B branches of the Fatma Şahin Secondary School in the Şehitkamil district of Gaziantep, affiliated to the Ministry of National Education, with a 5-week research process. The research was carried out with 45 students, 22 students in the control group and 23 students in the experimental group. Mixed research method was used in the research. Among the mixed research methods, the exploratory sequential mixed method design was preferred. In the quantitative part of the study, the quasi-experimental design with the control group, which was not balanced between the pre-test and post-test, was preferred. In the qualitative part of the research, interviews were conducted with a total of 6 people from the experimental group, including 2 people with a high score in the academic achievement post-test, 2 people with a medium score, and 2 people with a low score. Data collection tools in research; Solar System and Beyond Academic Achievement Test, Science Anxiety Scale, Cognitive Load Scale and Interview Questions. While the quantitative data obtained in the research were analyzed with the SPSS 25 package program, the qualitative data were analyzed with descriptive analysis. According to the quantitative results of the research; There was an increase in academic achievement in favor of the experimental group between the experimental and control groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of science anxiety and cognitive load levels. It was determined that the pre-test and post-test anxiety levels of the students were low. It was found that the cognitive load levels of the experimental group were higher than the control group. According to the qualitative results of the research; Students gave positive opinions about the use of AR applications and stated that they facilitated learning. It has been revealed that they have anxiety about science anxiety, such as the fear of doing the questions wrong and being stressed while solving the questions. The reason for the high cognitive load levels of the experimental group may be that the students have difficulties in using technology, the students are mentally tired as a result of giving many tasks in real and virtual environments, and the noisy classroom environment during the application.