Investigating the Effect of Science Shows on Middle School Students’ Curiosity Levels Toward Science
Middle School Students’ Curiosity Levels Toward Science
Abstract
The fact that science literacy stands out as a basic skill in the 21st century has increased the importance of learning environments that will provide students with scientific thinking skills and lead them to be interested in scientific processes. In particular, the development of students' curiosity levels towards science has a critical role in terms of both individual learning motivation and lifelong learning tendencies. In this direction, science shows have the potential to develop curiosity in students by arousing surprise, interest and excitement in students. Therefore, in this study, the effect of science shows organised for secondary school students on students' curiosity levels towards science was examined. In the study, one-group experimental method based on pre-test - post-test design was used. The sample of the study consisted of 78 secondary school students from different grade levels studying in a public school in Ankara. During the application process, science shows for physics, chemistry and biology subjects were determined within the scope of the science course curriculum. Criteria such as the potential to arouse curiosity, safety elements and applicability were taken into consideration in determining the science shows. The application was carried out interactively for 8 weeks, one lesson hour per week. As a data collection tool, the ‘Curiosity Scale for Science’ developed by the researcher and consisting of 11 one-dimensional, five-point Likert-type items with a Cronbach Alpha value of .88 was used. The scale was applied to the students before and after the application. In the analysis of the data, t-test for dependent samples was used. The results of the analysis showed that there was a significant increase after the application according to the curiosity scale data for science (p < .05). These results revealed that science shows positively affected students' curiosity towards science.
As a result, science shows are effective in developing students' curiosity levels and therefore science shows can be considered as an effective strategy in science teaching in and out of the classroom. In addition, the results obtained from this study are in line with the Turkish Century Education Model, which was put into effect in 2024 and encourages the design of learning environments based on experience-based and holistic learning that stimulate students' sense of curiosity.
Key Words: Science shows, Scientific curiosity, Science education
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