Physics textbooks evaluation scale

SUMMARY Physics Textbooks Evaluation Scale Everybody knows that textbooks are important in practicing of education activities. However some problems originating textbooks prevent their usage by teachers and students effectively. It is believed that the scales which will be reformed to solve these problems will help to evaluate the textbooks scientifically. In these days, many researches have evaluated textbooks in different sides. But, a special scale hasn't prepared to evaluate the physics textbooks up to now. This study aims to overcome the defined shortages in evaluating physics textbooks. In the first stage of study, textbooks evaluation scales which are used today have determined by examining the related literature and two of which have found useful for this study. The physics textbooks evaluation scale has been prepared by the researcher in using these two scales. In order to adopt the scale to the Turkish context, the interviews have been implemented with 15 physics teachers. The aspect validity of the scale which had taken the last form at the end of interviews has been determined by the science education specialists. To provide the scale's reliability, it is sent to 60 physics teachers and the evaluations of textbooks which are used in the schools are wanted from every teacher. The reliability of scale has calculated statistically (r=0.7157 & 0.8232) with the data taken from the 60 teachers. At the end of the interviews, it is determined that teachers don't find the current physics textbooks efficiently. In addition, it is determined that the teachers want to play active role in the process of writing textbooks. They care about questions and tests mostly in the textbooks. But, they have not have a common agreement on when the experiments should be performed, either at the beginning or later in the unit or end of the unit. With the data which has been gathered from 60 teachers, it is determined that the scale is reliable and the teachers approve the textbooks prepared by the private sector much more than the textbooks prepared by the Ministry of Education. Key words: Physics, Textbooks, Evaluation, Scale. VI