Determination of the levels of elementary student teachers in putting the stages of technological design cycle into practice: A model parachute race activity

Abstract

In this study, within the scope of Science and Technology Laboratory Applications-II Course, elementary student teachers were made to design a model parachute that can stay in the air for a time by using technological design cycle and to race these parachutes. In this regard, we introduced an activity what we call “MODEL PARACHUTE RACE” and we tried to determine levels with which elementary student teachers can put the stages of the technological-design cycle into practice. Case study method is defined as the efforts to understand the workings of a situation with unique properties within its own conditions. Since the purpose of this research was to define the levels of elementary student teachers, case study was used. The study was implemented with the attendance of 39 elementary student teachers who were currently in their second years at the Karadeniz Technical University, Fatih Faculty of Education, during the 2009-2010 spring semesters. Semi-structured interviews and diaries were used to collect data. The data obtained were analyzed by using content analysis method.