The effects of intelligence games education on prospective science teachers' critical thinking skills

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of education of intelligence games on the critical thinking tendencies of prospective science teachers and to determine the effect of education of intelligence games on science teachers' views on science education. The method of the study consists of multiple methods, which are used for quantitative methods, pre-posttest, paired control grouped pattern and case study of qualitative methods together for different purposes. The study group consisted of 41 pre-service science teachers, 21 of them from experimental group and 20 of them from control group at state university in the Western Black Sea Region. 14-week brain teaser games were given to the experimental group, and they were able to recognize intelligence games and play intelligence games. In order to collect quantitative data and to measure the critical thinking dispositions of science teacher candidates, "California Critical Thinking Tendencies Scale" was used. The scale was applied to the whole study group before and after intelligence games training. Interview form was used to collect qualitative data and to present the views of science teacher candidates on science education. The interviews were conducted with the experimental group before and after the training. Quantitative data obtained from the study were analyzed by using t-test for the related samples and t-test for unrelated samples. Qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis technique. In the research, it was concluded that the science thinking candidates who have been trained in intelligence games have increased their critical thinking tendencies. In addition, science teacher candidates who were trained in intelligence games also expressed their opinions on the use of games in science education. As a result, it can be said that intelligence games education develops critical thinking dispositions. Future studies should include studies on the relationship between intelligence games and thinking skills, and studies on critical thinking trends with different sampling and measurement tools. In addition, intelligence games can be given to prospective teachers during the undergraduate education process.