The Impact of Elective Application of Science Lessons on Sciences Courses: A Qualitative Study of 6th Grade Students

This study was conducted with the aim of identifying the impact of elective Application of Science lessons on science courses, based on the opinions of students. The study sample comprised fifteen volunteer 6th Grade students at secondary education level from a school in the Turkish province of Ağrı, who were given elective Application of Science lessons during the spring semester of the 2014/15 academic year. The data of this qualitative study was collected using the semi-structured interview technique, in accordance with the case study method. The data collected by the interviews were subjected to descriptive and content analysis. Results of the study showed that students enjoyed the elective Application of Science lessons and that they would like to take the subject again in the next grade level as it made it easier for them to learn topics related to science and contributed to their successful performance in science. The study also found that the elective Application of Science lessons were utilized to solve experiments or to teach topics in other science activities. Among other recommendations, it is emphasized that the teacher’s guidebook for elective Application of Science lessons, for all grade levels (5, 6, 7, 8), should be published as soon as possible

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