The level of visual literacy of gifted students and their peers and their views about visuality in science class

This study aims to identify the level of visual literacy of gifted students and their peers in secondary education and to determine their views about visuality in science course. In the study, the survey method was used in arver to identify the level of visual literacy of gifted students in secondary education attending and their peers who do and to to determine their views about visuality in science course. This study was designed as a relational survey model. Simple random/convenience sampling method was used in the research. The study was carried out in the second term of 2017-2018 educational year. The reseach group involved the students who go to 3 public secondary schools affliated with Sakarya Provincial Directorate of National Education in Serdivan, Erenler and Arifiye and the gifted in secondary education who go to Sakarya Science and Art Centre. 191 gifted students attending Sakarya Science and Art Centre and their 621 peers who do not have any special talents participated in the research. The data was collected with a "Visual Literacy Ability Scale" and a semi-conducted interview form consisting of 6 questions to determine their views about visuality in science course. The data obtained from the scale and the forms was analyzed statisically. The normality of numeric variables was tested with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Content analysis was used for analyzing qualitative data by taking opinions from the researchers and experts in the field. According to the statistical data, there was no significant difference within the total visual literacy scores of the gifted students who with respect to gender and grade variable. A significant difference was found in the levels of total visual literacy scores of the gifted students who do peer students with respect to gender variable on behalf of the girls while there was no significant difference with respect to grade variable. According the interview data from the students, they stated the importance of using visuals in daily life and science classes. They stated that the visuals used in science classes made the topics more comprehensible and easy to understand and remember the content. The students stated that they paid attention to the visuals about health in daily life most. The gifted students gave particular importance to the cell visuals in the Living Things and Life Unit while the students who peer students gave importance to the simple machines visuals in the Physical Events Unit. In addition, when the total scores of özel Visual Literacy Proficiency Scale ın of special gifted students and their peers were examined, it was concluded that the students were at high literacy level at visual literacy level. Keywords: Visual Literacy, Science Education, Gifted Students