Mobil Teknoloji Tabanlı Öğrenme Uygulamalarının Bilimsel Düşünme Süreci Üzerine Etkisinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

The aim of this research is to determine the effects of mobile technology based learning applications on scientific thinking processes. For this purpose, a mobile application developed and used by the participants to engage scientific thinking process. This research focuses on four basic components of the scientific thinking process; scientific process skills, scientific epistemological beliefs, reflective thinking skills and motivation. This research uses a mixed-method design which is called embedded experimental mixed-method design. In the quantitative part of the study, experimental design with pre-test and post-test control group was used. The qualitative data of the study were collected throughout and at the end of the research. The data collection tools of the study are; Scientific Process Skills Test developed by the researcher, Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Scale, reflective journals and digital activity records (logs). The research was completed in nine weeks with the participation of 94 pre-service teachers from Usak University in the spring semester of the year 2017. Experiment group of the study consists of randomly assigned 46 participants and control group has 48 participants. Descriptive statistics, dependent sample T-test, paired sample T-test, ANOVA, correlation, regression and content analysis were used in the analysis of the collected data.Data analysis showed that when compared to traditional lab-based courses, the use of the mobile application scientific research process is more efficient on the participants' scientific process skills, scientific epistemological beliefs, reflective thinking skills and motivation. Data analysis also revealed that there are meaningful and positive relations between scientific process skills and motivation, scientific epistemological beliefs and reflective thinking variables. Participants stated that they used the developed mobile application easily and they think using the application contributed to their learning. They also made suggestions such as adding like and favorite, seeing who is online and providing buttons users statistics related to their activity on mobile application for improving the mobile application.