Seaching effectiveness of posters as an alternative assessment tool in the course of science and technology

The purpose of this study is to examine usability of a poster, as an alternative assessment and evaluation tool and its effect on students? achievement, moreover to analyzestudents? view on poster usability.This study was conducted with thirty-six 6th grade students in 2009-2010 school year, at Sarikent Primary School and Sehit Suat Altunbas Primary School at Sefeaatli, Yozgat. The students were randomly assigned to treatment (N= 16) and control (N=20) groups in this study which was used pre-test post test control group experimental design, one of the quantitative research design.The research was conducted in ? Granular Structure of Matter?, ?Electricity in Our Lives? and ?Systems in Our Body? units. It lasted 4 hours per week for 16 weeks. At the beginning of each unit, pre-test was given to the students in order to determine students? prior knowledge and to assess if there was any significant difference between two groups. At the end of the each unit, achievement test was employed to determine effects of these two distinct assessment methods (traditional assessment vs. poster exam). Other than that, students in treatment group were assessed by poster exam. In addition, in order to gather students? view on poster exam, poster journals were used.The data were analyzed by SPSS statistical package program. It has been found that as opposed to traditional assessment and evaluation methods, using posters, as an alternative assessment and evaluation tool, have improved students? academic achievement.