An investigation the application of blended learning instruction in science laboratory lesson

In this study, according to blended learning approach both web based and face to face learning environments designed. In this aim, effectiveness of blended learning approach is evaluated on various dimension. This study focuses on a 16-week course supported by the internet and carried out at the university by using the ?moodle? platform. In particular, we tried to find solutions for the following problems:?Is there a significant difference between the attitudes towards Science Laboratory Lesson of the students involved in this research before and after practice in the blended learning enviroment??What are the students? perceptions about the web based instruction in terms of ; Course and course materials of online environment, Course support in online environment, Level of communication in online environment, Satisfaction in online environment??What do students think about the application of Blended Learning Education? How do they evaluate it?This case study was conducted within the Biology Laboratory II Course. This course was delivered for the undergraduate course at the Department of Educational Sciences (DES), Celal Bayar University, during the 2007-2008 Spring semester. Number of the participants was 30 and all of them were second year DES students. This course was delivered as a blended learning which combined face-to-face instruction with the web based instruction. The questionnaires was used to identify the students? perceptions about the web based course at the end of the semester. Interviews were conducted at the end of the semester in order to take students? comments, expectations and recommendations with respect to the course.As a result, significant differences between the students? attitude towards Science Laboratory Lesson were found before and after the course. Data results showed that students had positive perceptions about the blended learning environment. Quantitative evidence was also supported by the interviews made to students. From these analysis, it emerges that students feel some anxieties towards the use of the internet while attending lessons. These opinions are important in order to build up new education systems (blended learning) assisted by the internet. Some suggestions concerning the education supported by the internet (blended learning approach) and the application of it are offered at the end of this report.This study can contribute the following research studies related with the blended learning. Also, the instructor of the course can benefit from this research result in order to improve the productivity of the course for the next terms.