Project based learning approach in teaching of the social sciences course

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the Project Based Learning Approach on student achievement, retention of knowledge, student behavior, student creativity and problem solving skills in the teaching of the elementary school seventh grade Social Studies course unit ??Population of Our Country? and to determine the opinions of students and teachers on the subject.The experimental study was conducted in the academic year 2006-2007 at Bolu Gazipaşa Elementary school on a total of 73 student, 37 of whom were in the experiment group and 36 of whom were in the control group. In order to determine the opinions of the students and the teacher on the experiment, a qualitative research method (description) was also used by asking semi structured guestionsThe results obtained in this research study may be summarized as follows:1.When knowledge, comprehension, application and overall success levels of the experiment and control groups were compared, a meaningful positive difference was observed in the experiment group.2. When retention averages of the experiment and control groups were compared, meaningful positive difference was observed in the experiment group.3. A meaning positive difference was observed in the experiment group in terms of the final behavior points of the experiment and control groups.4.When the differences between the groups? creativity points and problem solving points were taken into consideration, a meaningful positive difference was observed in the experiment group.5. The experiment group students who were taught the course using the project based learning approach, expressed positive opinions by stating that the the Social studies course was interesting, not monotonous, research oriented and it was a course that allowed them to be active participants.6. When the opinions of the teachers on project based learning were examined, it was seen that the participating teachers did not have enough knowledge regarding the stages, features and the evaluation of project based learning. It was also reported by teachers that project based learning increased students? self-confidence and developed students? presentation skills, feelings of taking responsibility, graphic designing and interpretation skills, critical thinking skills, social intraction skills, research skills and problem solving skills.7. Based on the results of the observations made it was seen that, regarding the learning process, no problems were experienced in investigating and presenting problems and that the students were not being objective when evaluating themselves. It was also observed that in time an increase was observed in students? expressing themselves and in the number of the guestions asked by students and in-group relationships developed positively.Based on research findings suggestions were made.Key words: Social Studies, Project Based Learning Approach, Success, Traditional Teaching, Student Behavior, Creative Thinking, Problem Solving