The effect of conducting the painting lessons accarding to museum-based constructivist learning theory activities on achievernent, retention and attitude? (the sample of Diyarbakir province

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of conducting the painting lessons accarding to museum-based constructivist learning theory activities on achievernent, retention and attitude and to determine the views of students in the experimental group over the applied instruction.The research was carried out on the students in Ziya Gökalp High School in Diyarbakır during the fall-term in 2005-2006. Of the sampling groups selected randomly, 10 TM/A (n=30) was taken as experimental group, while 10 TM/F (n=31) as control. In the research, we made use of both qualitative and quantitative data colection methods; of experimental pattern methods, pre-and post-test control patterns were employed. The data were obtained by achievement test (pre-and post-test), attitude scale and interview form. To the students participated in the study, as achievement test and attitude scale, pre-test was applied before the experimental process and post-test after the process; 8 weeks later, however, retention test was applied. For the analysis of the quantitative data obtained, t-test was used with a view to establishing the differences between the averages, and ''descriptional analysis'' was used for analysis of qualitative findings.At the end of the study, in terms of retention and attitude scores a significant difference was determined to exist between the experimental group in which the instruction was performed according to museum-based constructivist experimental approach and control group in which conventional teaching was applied, in favour of experimental group. In addition, the student in the experimental group were of the apinion that, as regads the instruction applied in the painting lesson, the instruction according to museum-based constructivist learning theorry activities afftects favourably their achievement in the lesson, and that they enjoyed museum trips, group dynamics and watching documentaries; the lesson would become enjoyable through application of different activities. They also pointed out that they expected such an instruction to be applied in later lessons.According to the findings obtained from this study, it is concluded that the instruction according to museum-based constructivist learning theory activities should be applied, and recornmendations have been made for the new studies to be carried out in this field.Keywords: Visual Arts Education, Museum Education, Constructivist Learning Approach, Graphical Design, Learning Medium.