Effects of internet usage in social sciences classes on students' academical achivements, permanence of information and attitudes on the lesson

The aim of this study is to determine effects of internet usage in the social sciences classes on students' academic success, permanence of the informatıon and attitudes on the lesson. Besides, it is also aimed to determine views about learning processes of experimental group students who receive internet used education. In the study, mixed method approach which consists of quantitative and qualitative methods is used. The study group of the study consists of 47 students at 7th grade in a secondary school in Erzurum Central Yakutiye district in the spring term of the 2015-2016 Academic Year. In the quantitative extent of the study, one of the groups is determined as experimental group and the other one is determined as control group randomly. Lessons are taught by using internet in the experimental group while student- centered lessons are taught in the control group. As a data collection tool, academic achievement test, Social Sciences lesson's attitude scale are used. Also, academic achievement test is used as a permanence test. Data required from the research are evaluated by using T TEST and ANCOVA. On the qualitative dimension of the study, Semi- Structured Interview Forms are used to specify student and teacher views. After receiving opinions of students and teachers about internet usage in Social Sciences lessons, they are analysed with content analysis. Results are submitted with their frequency and percentage values. According to research results, it is found out that there are significant results behalf of the experimental group between academic achievement and permanence test averages of experimental and control groups. There is not a significant difference about Social Sciences lesson's attitude point averages between experimental and control groups. The results obtained show that internet used education is more effective on 7th grade students' academic achievements and permanent learnings. It is also observed that both methods are effective on the attitudes about Social Science lesson. Data gained from semi- structured interview show that both teachers and students views support each other. Teachers and students mention that abstract conceptions become more concrete, subjects are learnt better, lesson success is risen, lessons become more entertaining, the lesson is loved, permanent knowledge is provided, different intelligence areas are addressed, self- confidence is gained through internet used education. Key Words: Internet, student and teacher interview, experimental and control groups