Motivational Qualities of Hands-on
Science Activities for Turkish
Preservice Kindergarten Teachers
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Uludag University, TURKEY
Publication date: 2012-01-12
EURASIA J. Math., Sci Tech. Ed 2012;8(2):73-82
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research, conducted in a science methods course in Turkey, was to
explore the qualities of hands-on science activities which might motivate preservice
kindergarten teachers to use these activities in their own classrooms. Two similar classes
totaling 47 students and taught by the same instructor were used in this study. On surveys
filled out at the end of the course, students rated course activities as fun, interesting, and
high in learning and identified which activities they were likely to use in their own
classrooms. Results indicated that student ratings of activities as fun, interesting, and high
in learning were highly correlated and that students rated the activities they expected to
use in the classroom significantly higher in fun, interest, and learning than the activities
they did not intend to use. Implications for teaching science methods courses are
discussed.