Abstract:

Students with mild levels of mental disability in Turkey often continue their training through full-time coaching with their colleagues who show normal development and follow general training programs. In other words, they take the lessons they receive from their colleagues that show normal development based on the individualized educational program. One of these lessons is science lessons. The fact that the course of Science requires cognitive performance, the formation of the field of science from abstract concepts has a negative impact on the performance of students with mental disability processing information and causes them to be difficult in this course. Therefore, it is very important for students with mild levels of mental disability as the content of the subjects of science, as well as the methods and techniques that this content will be transmitted to students. This contributes to the ability of students with mental disability to recognize the environment they live, and to learn the concepts related to science and to look at the world with a different look. The current publications in the field of mental disability appear that much of them are focused on methods, practices or adaptations that will encourage education, access to and participation in general education for individuals with mental disability. However, studies aimed at science education, including other fields of academic content for individuals with mental disabilities, are not at the desired level. Therefore, this study focused on the importance of science education for students with mental insufficiency, the teaching methods and strategies of science education aimed at these students.

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