The effect of informal learning environment upon students' understanding of science-technology-society-environment

It was known that informal learning environment (i.e. out-of-school) increases the quality of teaching and learning activities. Informal environments also provide many advantages as enriching content of learning. Moreover, it was emphasized that the science-technology-society-environment (STSE) learning was not effectively involved in Turkish education system. From this point of view, it should be considered informal learning environments in order to enable students' understanding of the STSE relation. Within the scope of the research, it was aimed to determine effectiveness of study visit on students' understanding of STSE. The research was conducted with 14 male students on the 5th grade level in 2016-2017 academic year. This research, which used a recycling-solid waste collection center, a botanic garden, a planetarium and science center and a zoo a few of informal learning environments, was conducted according to the case study design method. In the study, VOSTS (Views on Science-Technology-Society) questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, field trip observation forms and trip diaries were used as data collection tools. The data indicated that the informal learning environments were inadequate to remediate students' conceptual confusion while it was effective in learning new concepts. Informal learning environments have been found to be effective in understanding the science-technology-society-environment relation, in understanding the characteristics of scientists and in understanding the nature of scientific knowledge. Keywords: Science-technology-society-environment (STSE); informal education; out-of school/class environment