Abstract:

Aim of this study is to determine the effect of inquiry based outdoor laboratory activities on academicachievements of students Among the test models, the pre-test and post-test control group design was usedin the research. The research was held with 7th grade students in 2009-2010 academic year. The researchwas implemented with a control group (n=43) in which the traditional method was used and anexperimental group (n=46) in which inquiry based outdoor laboratory activities were held. The data wascollected via an academic achievement test which was developed by the researcher for testing theattainments of the students about "Human and Environment" unit in 7th grade science and technologyprogram. The academic achievement test was practised as a pre-test for the control and the experimental* Bu makale, ikinci yazarın 2013 yılında tamamladığı Marmara Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Birimi tarafından EGT-C-DRP-010710-0240 Nolu proje olarak desteklenen doktora tezine dayalı hazırlanmıştır.** Prof. Dr., Marmara Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi Fen Bilgisi Eğitimi ABD,[email protected]*** Fen ve Teknoloji Öğrt, Milli Eğitim Vakfı Ortaokulu, [email protected] at the beginning of the research. "Human and Environment" unit was studied with the experimentalgroup through the inquiry based outdoor laboratory activities and with the control group through thetraditional education method. The same academic achievement test was applied to both the control and theexperimental groups as post-test at the end of the research. The results were evaluated via t-test for pairedand independent samples on SPSS 15.0 . The results show that Science and Technology lessons, which arecarried out with inquiry based outdoor laboratory activities, have positive effects on students' academicachievements. Based on the results obtained, it is proposed that a program which includes samples ofoutdoor activities should be supplemented in Science and Technology program and teachers shouldpractice this kind of activities in their teaching techniques.

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