Effect of cooperative teaching method supported by simulation on students' academic success and science attitudes: DNA and genetic code subject

In this study, the effect of simulation supported cooperative teaching method and the method proposed by the current program on students' achievements and attitudes towards science were investigated.The method of the study was determined as a quasi-experimental design with pre-test post-test paired control group. The study is conducted in the fall semester term of the 2018-2019 academic year, on a study group consisting of 105 students of 8th grade learners in Siverek. Since the school where the research was carried out was animam hatip secondary school,considering that boys and girls are educated in different classes the study was carried out for 5 weeks in 4 classes, 2 of which were control and 2 of them were experiments. In the control groups while the lessons are being taught by the method proposed by the current program, in the experimental groups the lessons were conducted by the researcher in accordance lesson planswhich adopted by Student Teams Achivement Divisions method. Data were collected with, "DNA and Genetic Code Unit Success Test", consisting of 20 multiple choice and 5 open-ended questions and "Attitude Scale Towards Science", consisting of5 scales which are Career Interest in Science, Leisure Interest in Science, Social Implication of Science, Enjoyment of Science Lesson, Normality of Scientist.In order to represent of all the subjects in theachievement test and determine the questions to be included in the achievement test, a table of specifications was prepared with the behaviors to be measured and their responses in the renewed cognitive learning steps of Bloom.The study showed thataccording to method proposed by the current program, the simulation-supported cooperative teaching method more increased students' achivement and provided that students has more positive attitudes towards science. Key words: Computer Simulation, Cooperative Learning, Revised Bloom Taxonomy.