The effects of using mind map in 6th grade science courses on student' academic achievement, retention and attitudes towards science

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of using mind maps in science lesson to the academic achievements of students, their attitudes towards science lesson, permanencing the leraned information in mind. The study had been condocted for 5 weeks at the second term of 2013-20144 academic year with studying in 6th grade students in Keçiören Secondary School in Keçiören district of Ankara, 61 of whom were experimental group, 61 of whom were control group the total students were 122. Pretest-posttest research design with control group from half experimental research design which is one of quantiative research methods had been used in this study . While the unit of ''Systems in Our Body'' which is in 6th grade science lesson curricculum was being conducted with mind maps in experiemental group, this unit was thought with control group according to science lesson curriculum. Academic achievement test which was develop associated with ''Systems in Our Body'' in 6th grade science lesson was used for the measurement of students' academic achievement. Attitude scale was used with aim of determining the students' attitudes towards science lesson. Academic achievement test and attitude scale towards science lesson was applied with pretest and posttest to students of experimental and control groups. Academic achievement test was applied to both group 4 weeks later after the application in order to determine the effects of performance in mind on the learned information of mind maps. The data obtained in this study was analyzed according to independent groups t-test. As a result of research , academic achievement test posttest scares of experimental group students were statistically at significantly higher level than academic achievement test posttest scores of control group students. After application, at result of evaluation in terms of attitudes to science lesson, significantly between the attitude scale post test scores of the experiemental group students and the attitude scale post test scores of the control group students hadn't been found. However, at result of research the findings showed that supported with mind maps teaching on the performance of the information in mind was more effective . By the light of findings obtained from the study the use of activities supported with mind maps in science lessons is thought to be contribution to students' academic achievement on the performance of the learned information. Keywords: Mind maps, Attitudes to science, Science teaching, Academic achievement, Permanency