Opinions of students, teachers and parents regarding homeworks given in science and technology course to 7th and 8th graders

The purpose of this study was to explore views of students, teachers and parents regarding science and technology course. Mixed design was used in this study. The sample of homeworks given in the study was composed of 55 Science and Technology teachers, 1584 students and 764 parents.Views of students, teachers, and parents regarding homeworks given in science and technology course were collect by an instrument developed by the researcher and by several open-ended questions. The instrument includes three subscales; function, attitude, and behavior. Base on suggestions presented by specialists the instrument and the open-ended questions were investigated by subject matter specialists, the final version were formed. SPSS 15.0 Package programme was used to analyze quantitative data while content analysis was preferred to analyze qualitative data gathered from open ended questions.The results showed that there was not any significant difference in teachers scores on function, attitude and behavior subscales of the instrument regarding demographic information.When, the scores in function, attitude and behavior subscales were investigated with respect to gender, it was observed that function scores of female students were higher than male students. Moreover, when the subscale scores were investigated with respect to grade level and taking preschool education it was found that seventh grade students had higher scores in each subscale compared to eight grade students. And students who took pre-school education got higher behavior scores than students who did not.Students who allocate more time for reading, doing homework, and research got higher scores in each subscale those who allocate less time. Students who allocate time for private teaching institution or private course, TV, and PC game had lower behavior scores than the students who allocate less time for such activities.when subscale scores were investigated according to parents demographics it was observed that civil servants in profession group, university graduate in level of education group, and high income in monthly income group had lower function scores than other members in each related group.It was also found that, homeworks means to teachers, students and parents as repeating subjects, understanding subjects better, and studies to be done at home teachers, students and parents all had positive opinion regarding.Moreover, results revealed that teachers, students and parents had a common oppinoin regarding homeworks assigned in Science and Technology course that homeworks in common homeworks given in science and technology course include research activities experiments test solving observation, reading and writing activities.Teachers and parents stated that students want to conduct experiment and research activities. This finding support students opinions. Moreover, students and parents requested homework, include that multiple-choice items.Teachers and parents stated that students have difficulty in obtaining required materials and sources. This finding support the findings related to students problems while doing homework.Teachers and parents stated that homework contribute to understand subjects matter better, interpret daily life events better, and gaining some skills. These opinions were similar to students opinions about the contribution of homework.Teachers, students and parents opinions regarding homeworks showed that homeworks should mostly include experiments and interesting activities. Parents and students also indicated that multiple choice tests should be given as a homework.Keywords: Science and Technology, Homework, Students Views, Teachers Views, Parents Views