Development and implementation of a "science center learning kit" designed to improve student outcomes from an informal science setting

Abstract

This study was conducted to develop, implement and measure the effectiveness of a science center learning kit (SCLK) designed to facilitate learning outcomes from a science center in İstanbul. The SCLK was developed after careful consideration of the suggestions and cautions raised in the literature. The implementation of SCLK was carried out in Şişli Municipality Science Center in İstanbul. In order to measure the effectiveness of the SCLK the study was implemented in two different kinds of schools (public/private) in İstanbul with two different designs. The effectiveness of SCLK was analyzed by using pre-experimental design (pre-test post-test design) in the public school with the participation of 21 (6th and 7th grade) public school students; and by using quassi-experimental design (pre-test, posttest, control group design) in the private school with the participation of 56 (7th grade) private school students. Data obtained from the public school sample were analyzed to examine changes in students’ conceptual understanding about the concepts in force and motion unit, their personal declarations about their own learning from the visit, and their understanding of the main ideas of selected exhibits. Paired samples t-test analysis indicated no significant differences between pre-test and post-test scores of the students in terms of their conceptual understanding about the concepts in force and motion unit. MOLI scores of the students indicated that they generally had favorable declarations about their own learning. Data from the private school sample were used to examine the differences between students who conducted a visit to the science center with SCLK (experimental group) and without SCLK (control group) in terms of the changes in their conceptual understanding on force and motion, personal declarations about their own learning from the visit and understanding of the main ideas of selected exhibits. Paired samples t-test analysis indicated no significant differences between pre-test and post-test scores of the students in the experimental group in terms of their conceptual understanding about force and motion unit. Repeated measures ANOVA results showed no significant differences between the experimental and the control groups in terms of the changes in their conceptual understanding about force and motion unit. Students in the experimental and control groups were also similar in terms of their personal declarations about their learning from the visit (MOLI scores). When compared to the data obtained from the public school, private school students declared less favorable views concerning their learning from the visit. Answers given to the questions in the Understanding of the Big Ideas Questionnaire were similar in both the public and the private school groups. For both groups results indicated that few students could correctly identify the main ideas in selected exhibit. The results also provided evidence on what students considered to be the most interesting and the most meaningful exhibit in the science center.