Quantum learning model and its effectiveness in science education: Solar system and eclipses

Four learning areas were created in the 2018 Renewed Science Curriculum. The first of these learning areas is the Earth and the Universe. With the curriculum, it was aimed to contribute to the students in the field of astronomy within the learning area of the Earth and the Universe, and to raise their awareness in this direction. In addition, in the renewed education and training age, new teaching models and lifelong learning skills deemed appropriate to be acquired by students have been developed, aiming to ensure that students participate in classes more actively and ensure permanent learning. With these skills, it is aimed to strengthen the communication in the mother tongue and foreign languages, to gain cooperation and learning, to increase communication and productivity, and to gain such as self-confidence. These skills and models are of great importance for the development of the student in the education and training process. The acquisitions brought by the quantum learning model within the developed models and the acquisition of lifelong learning skills together with the model are included in the study. In this study, it is aimed to examine the effects of the activities prepared for the Solar System and Eclipses unit with the Quantum learning model on the academic achievement and lifelong learning skills of students. The study was carried out with quantitative based quasi-experimental research method. The study was carried out with two separate 6th grade student groups in the province of Amasya in the 2019-2020 academic year. The number of students in the experimental group was 15, and the number of students in the control group was 17. As data collection tools, Solar System and Eclipses unit success test and Lifelong Learning Skills Scale were used to determine students' levels before and after the application. KR-20 was used in the reliability analysis of the Solar System and Eclipses unit success test and item difficulty indexes were examined. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes were made in the Lifelong Learning Skills Scale. As a result of the analysis, the data were interpreted. While the activities prepared for the model were used in the experimental group, the lessons were conducted in the control group with the approach in line with the current curriculum. Two measurement tools developed for the study were applied to the sample groups. Independent Groups t-test and ANCOVA analysis were used in the analysis of the applied scales. According to the results, a significant difference was found between the academic achievements of the experimental and control group students in favor of the experimental group after the application. Therefore, the achievement test result fort he Solar System and Elipses unit have shown that the quantum learning model is more successful at the academic level. In the data obtained from the Lifelong Learning Skills scale, it was concluded that there was a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group students. In accordance with the results of the research, it was predicted that an academic achievement study could be applied with the quantum learning model in other class levels and other units. Keywords: Science Teaching, Quantum Learning Model, Solar System and Eclipses, Lifelong Learning Skills