Teaching "biological variety, environmental dirtiness and erosion" on the base of constructivist learning theory and it's effect on academic succes and retention primary school, fifth grade

ABSTRACTMASTER THESISTEACHING ?BIOLOGICAL VARIETY, ENVIRONMENTAL DIRTINESSAND EROSION? ON THE BASE OF CONSTRUCTIVIST LEARNINGTHEORY AND IT?S EFFECT ON ACADEMIC SUCCES AND RETENTIONPRIMARY SCHOOL, FIFTH GRADEMehmet Duran ÖZNACARDEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGYINSTUTITE OF NATUREL APPLIED SCIENCESUNIVERSITY OF ÇUKUROVASupervisor : Prof. Dr. Atabay DÜZENLİYear : 2005, Page : 291Jury : Prof. Dr. Atabay DÜZENLİAssist. Prof. Dr. Pınar ÖZALPAssist. Prof. Dr. Mahinur KARATAŞ COŞKUNThe main purpose of this experimental research was to determine the effect ofteaching Biological Variety, Environmental Dirtiness and Erosion subjects withConstructivist Learning Theory on academic sucsess and retention in fifth gradeprimary school. Whether significant differences were investigated between theexperimental group was applicated Constructivist Learning Theory such asmeaningful learning, project basis learning, cooperation basis learning and thecontrol group was applicated traditional learning methods.The present study was realized with fifth grade students of Şehit İlbey GülbeyPrimary School which is presented at Şakirpaşa District, lower social-economiclevel, state school, Seyhan County of Adana on 2004-2005. The students that join alllessons during investigation were accepted as real subject in participant students andnecessary was made only this group. As result, for experimental group 34 studentsand for control group 29 students, namely total 63 students were determined for realtest subject. Application was continued for four weeks, 25 lessons. As measuring toolthat was designed by researcher and made validity, reliability training which aboutBiological Variety, Environmental Dirtiness and Erosion topics achievement testwere applied both group as preliminary test, final test and retention test. According toresult obtained, Constructivist Learning Theory was more succesful than traditionallearning methods for achievement test connected with Biological Variety,Environmental Dirtiness and Erosion topics on the respect of academic success andretention. Besides Constructivist Learning Theory was more effective (p< 0.0001)than traditional learning methods to provide for improvement of individual ability.Key Words: Academic Succes, Biological Variety, Erosion and EnvironmentalDirtiness, Constructivist Learning Theory.II