Abstract:

In this study, it was aimed to determine the astronomy literacy levels of secondary school 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students and to examine the sub-dimensions of astronomy literacy in terms of some variables. In the research, descriptive scanning method was used. The study was carried out with secondary school students studying in a secondary school in the central district of Ankara province in the spring term of the 2021-2022 academic year. 518 students participated in the study (n5th grade = 125, n6th grade = 134, n7th grade = 131 and n8th grade = 128). In the study, the study group was selected by using convenient sampling method. The data of the research were collected with the astronomy literacy scale. The data were analyzed with the SPSS package program. As a result of the analysis of the data, the affective characteristics of the students towards astronomy, which is one of the sub-dimensions of the astronomy literacy scale, were at "moderate"; behavioral and cognitive characteristics of astronomy were determined to be at "low" level. It was revealed that when the grade level of the students increased, their astronomy literacy levels increased for all dimensions. It was seen that the gender of secondary school students made a difference for all sub-dimensions of astronomy literacy, and this difference was in favor of girl students. It is noteworthy that the students who use sky observation applications have higher astronomy literacy levels for all dimensions than the students who do not use these applications.

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