Implementation efficiency of syllabus activities in social studies course at 7th grade of elementary education

The general aim this study is to evaluate the implementation efficiency of syllabus activities in Social Studies Course at 7th Grade of Elementary Education with reference to ideas of Social Studies teachers and 7th grade students from both private and state elementary schools. Screening model was used as research model.In this study we especially tried to find answer to this question: Does the efficiency of teacher in conducting his/her role vary according to his/her age, seniority, education level and the type of school s/he works at?The population of this study is comprised of 7980 7th grade students and 139 Social Studies teachers from both private and state schools in Malatya city centre during 2009-2010 academic year, spring semester.The sample group is comprised of 2500 7th grade students chosen randomly from state schools and all the 7th grade students from private schools; and all teachers from private and state schools.The data was collected through teacher and student scales developed by the researcher. The student scale was piloted with the participation of 220 students and following values were found: KMO= 0, 810; Barlett= 2216, 007, and Cronbach Alpha was found to be 0,879. The teacher scale was piloted with the participation of 75 teachers and the following values were found: KMO=0, 874; Barlett= 1563, 056 (p=0,000) and Cronbach Alpha value was found to be 0,885. For data analysis SPSS 17.00 was used.In the sub-scale related with the Efficiency Level of Teachers? Use of Method Technique and Strategies, the most efficient technique was found to be ?question-answer?, the best strategy was expository teaching strategy. Regarding the efficiency of motivating students to the lesson, the most opted item was ?To be able to tell the highlights of the lesson?. Regarding the teachers? ideas on efficiency in using materials, the most opted item was ?teaching the lesson using the blackboard?. There were parallelisms between the teachers? and the students? ideas. State schools expressed low levels regarding on the items which aimed to find out efficiency level in using multi media.Based on the gathered data, we suggest that teachers should attend in-service education courses and seminars given by experts so that they could motivate students towards the lesson using new approaches, methods, techniques and strategies in education and they can also change the current attitudes of students and develop positive attitudes. Our schools, especially state schools, should meet their education material and equipment needs.