The effect of virtual laboratory applications applied in the unit of movements of the world in the 4th grade Science lesson on the academic achievement of the students and the permanence of learning

In this study, it has been investigated the impact of virtual laboratory practices on students' academic achiements and retention of learning in the context of "Movements of the Earth" topic which is the part of the Eath's Crust and Movements of Our Planet " unit in the 4th grade Science curriculum. The study has been conductes by using one group pretest posttest experimental design. The lessons were taught by researcher using a virtual laboratory.In this study for assesment instruement 10 question -involved in all learning outcomes- test which was developed by the researcher was used.The Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient of this test was calculated as 0.727.The developed test was run off by classroom teachers before practise so It was determined foreknowledge of students. Afterwards the experiments were started by researcher,in the begining of lesson the course book was followed and goned through phase of preparation-enter into the course then it was provided students attention to the course by practising on EBA.Fİnally, the topic was lectured by using virtual practising which was designed on website "Mozaweb" and it was provided to all students observed and realized rotation of the earth around the sun and its own axis by practising activities.The study group included selected through convenience sampling 65 4th grade students from public schools in the Yakakent district of Samsun Province. The practisings which were used in the research were pointed by the researcher after entering into lessons. Then the classroom teachers concluded the topic using more two weeks and 6 class hour according to curriculum. At the end of unit, achievement test of unit was applied to students and was evaluated the results. After 6 months the practising was over, the same achievement test was applied to students and it was tried to explain the practising impact on retention of learning. As a result of the research, it was infered that virtual laboratory practises has had impact on to increase student success and retention of learning.