Investigation of the relationship of social media use and science education in secondary students

In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between the use of social media and science education of secondary school 7th and 8th grade students. In line with this purpose, it was carried out with 7th grade students in secondary school in the schools determined in Antalya and Tokat provinces in the 2020-2021 academic year. Within the scope of the research, a descriptive research was conducted with the sample group selected in an unbiased way. For this purpose, 216 students from the 7th grade and 136 students from the 8th grade from the relevant provinces were used as samples in the research. Due to the lack of face-to-face education in the pandemic conditions, a personal information form and the 14-item 'Social Network Sites Usage Purpose Scale' were applied to students online via Google form (Karal and Kokoç, 2010). According to the findings obtained as a result of the study, it was determined that while there was a significant difference between the purpose of using social networking sites and the course grade in the sub-factor dimension of 'use for social interaction, communication' and 'use for educational purposes', there was no difference in the sub-factor dimension of 'recognition and recognition'. It has been determined that students are satisfied with the science education provided through social media. In the coming years, trainings on social media literacy and the effective use of social media in the context of teachers and students may contribute to the raising of individuals more consciously.