Abstract
The objective of this study is to research the effects of using concept cartoons in the “Solar System and Beyond” unit, which is included in seventh grade science lessons, on students’ critical thinking skills. The study group consisted of 58 students, selected using an appropriate sampling method, who were students in a state secondary school, which is close to the city centre. The study used a pre-test and post-test matched control group design. During the three-week-long experimental teaching process, the students in the control group (n=30) were taught according to the curriculum of science lessons, while concept cartoons developed by the researchers were used with the students in the experimental group (n=28). The Cornell Critical Thinking Test-Level X (CCT-X), as developed by Ennis & Millman (1989), was used as the data collection tool. The results of the study showed decreases in the critical thinking skills scores of the students in the control group, while a statistically significant difference was found in the critical thinking skills of the students in the experimental group. In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed in favour of the experimental group when comparing the CCT-X scores of the experimental group’s use of concept cartoons and those of the control group’s use of 2013 science curriculum practices. Keywords: Solar System and Beyond, Astronomy Education, Critical Thinking, Concept Cartoons.
Highlights
Astronomy is a field of science that gives us historical information about humankind and data on the structure and history of the universe in order to understand what kind of a future the universe will have, as well as the phenomena taking place in the sky
In the light of all these views, the objective of this study is to show whether a teaching method in which concept cartoons are used for teaching astronomy subjects, which include several abstract concepts, will result in a significant difference in students’ critical thinking skills
The data obtained from the subproblem, “Are there statistically significant differences in the Critical Thinking Test-Level X (CCT-X) pre-test and post-test scores for the control group students taught with the existing teaching method in in the ‘Solar System and Beyond’ unit of seventh grade science lessons?”, were analysed with the dependent groups t-test
Summary
Astronomy is a field of science that gives us historical information about humankind and data on the structure and history of the universe in order to understand what kind of a future the universe will have, as well as the phenomena taking place in the sky. Astronomy enables human beings to understand the universe. It is necessary for human beings to make deductions about events and phenomena by using the information they have, their logic, scientific methods and critical thinking skills in order to be able to gather scientifically acceptable information about the world and they universe they live in. It is especially important for individuals to use critical thinking skills in order to be able to find out which of the existing assertions available to believe in
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: lnternational Electronic Journal of Elementary Education
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
