The effect of 5e model supported with coding and digital game design on gifted students' academic success and problem solving skills

The aim of this research is to reveal the effect of the 5E model supported with coding and digital game design on the 3rd grade gifted students' achievement and problem solving skills in concept of force and motion in science course. The research was carried out for seven weeks in a Science and Art Center affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in Antalya in 2021-2022 academic year. In preparation stage, one group pre-test and post-test model, which is one of the weak experimental designs was used. The study group of this stage consisted of 40 students. In the second stage, the pre-test post-test control group design, which is one of the semi-experimental designs, was applied. At this stage, the participants consisted of 80 gifted students, 40 students in the experimental groups and 40 students in the control groups. Science Achievement Test, Problem Solving Skills Scale, Scratch Achievement Test and Scratch Self-Efficacy Scale were data collection tools used in research. In the first stage, coding training was given to the students to teach the Scratch. Before and after the training, Scratch Achievement Test and Scratch Self-Efficacy Scale were used as pre-test and post-test. The effect of training was analyzed with dependent groups t-test. The training given in the experimental groups had statistically significant positive effects on student's Scratch achievement and self-efficacy beliefs. After the Scratch training, the students in experimental group studied force and motion concept with 5E model supported with coding and digital game design in five weeks practice. The students in control groups studied the same concept in line with the current program. Before and after the implementation phase, the Science Achievement Test and the Problem Solving Skills Scale were applied to students as pre-tests and post-tests. MANCOVA and then ANCOVA analyzes were conducted. According to the MANCOVA result, 5E model supported with coding and digital game design had statistically significant effect on the collective science achievement post-test and problem solving post-test scores. According to the ANCOVA results, the science achievement post-test and problem solving post-test scores of the experimental groups were significantly higher than the control groups.