The effect of an instructional model based on creative thinking on students' conceptual understanding of separation of matter subject and their scientific creativity

The purpose of this study was to develop a creative thinking support instructional model (CTSIM); to compare effect of CTSIM and traditional instruction approach on 9th grade students' conceptions, images, lateral thoughts about separation of matter subject and their scientific creativity performances; also to analyze importance of analogical thinking on imagination.Before the real study, it was actualized a plot study in Ankara Gazi College because of developing CTSIM and providing validity and reliability of some instruments. As real study, it was choice two 9th grade classes in Ankara Kalaba Anatolian Lyceum. The topic of separation of matter was taught with traditional instruction approach in one of two classes (control group) and with CTSIM in other class (experimental group) in fall semester 2007-2008 education year.The subject of this study consisted of total 64 students and research design was pretest-posttest control group design. Separation of Matter Concept Test (SMCT), Analogical Thinking Test (ATT), Scientific Creativity Test (SCT) were applied as pre-test; Separation of Matter Image and Lateral Thinking Scale (SMILTS), SMCT, SCT and SMILTS were applied as post-test.The results of this study showed that CTSIM were more affected than traditional instruction approach on students? conceptions, the qualities of their images, lateral thoughts about separation of matter topic and their scientific creativity performances. It was identified that students? preconceptions and analogical thinking abilities influence quality of their images about the topic. Additional, it was detected that students? pre scientific creativity abilities influence their post scientific creativity abilities.