Concept maps for the general biology course on the effects of academic achievement and attitude

The main objective of this study concept mapping, and general biology class using traditional teaching methods, students examine the effects on academic achievement and attitudes towards biology lesson.This research Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Education Science Education 2nd class studying in the United States 103 (81 female, 22 male) took place with the participation of the student. Spring Term of 2010-2011 Academic work is made.Pretest-posttest experimental design with control group was used for the research. Experimental and control groups, random selection of students have been identified. Concept mapping technique in the experimental group, subjects in the control group are embroidered with the traditional teaching method. Group prior to the application of concept mapping, students trained in the concept mapping strategy. The application took 10 weeks.Personal Information Form one week prior to the application, and then the students, General Biology II Course Academic Achievement Test and Attitude Test were used for biology class.Pretest and posttest analysis of the data obtained was SPSS 17 Program Package.Quantitative analysis of the survey data, the arithmetic mean, t-test (paired / independent) and analysis of covariance were used.Of the research, experimental and control group students' academic achievement and attitudes of a significant difference between posttest scores could not be identified(p>.05). Experimental and control groups, academic achievement and attitude pretest / posttest comparisons in both the traditional teaching method of concept mapping as well as with the success of the students in the experimental group, significant differences were found in favor(p<.05).In addition, according to the results obtained from the other; gender groups academic achievement posttest scores obtained from both male and female students were significantly different between(p<.05). Success of female students than male students were higher. Attitude towards biology lesson posttest gender groups according to the information obtained from male and female students' attitudes toward biology lesson was no significant difference was found(p>.05).Keywords: Traditional Method, Concept Mapping, Biology Education, Attitude, Achievement