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Aim of this research is to examine the effect of the use of the socio-scientific argumentation method on students' entrepreneurial perceptions in the middle school science course. In the study, quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest control group, as one of the quantitative research, was used. Experiment and control groups were formed from students who were studying in four classes in a determined middle school in the 2017-2018 academic year. In this study, lessons were taught with the socio-scientific argumentation method in the experiment group while Turkish Science Education Program activities and application continued to be used in the control group. The Entrepreneurship Perception in Science Education Scale was used as the data collection tool in the study. The scale was developed in order to determine secondary school students' entrepreneurship perceptions. The scale consists of 5 factors and 28 items. Findings of research indicated a significant score difference in favor of the experiment group. In addition, findings of sub-factor scores also indicated significant score differences in favor of the experiment group According to the results of the study, socio-scientific argumentation method positively affected the students' entrepreneurship perception. Furthermore, results show that socio-scientific argumentation method positively affected the students' self-esteem, innovation perception and creativity, leadership and tendency to stand out, social skills and group work, and risk taking tendency. Socio-scientific argumentation method might also have influenced the entrepreneurship characteristics which is a learning outcome for students according to the 2013 and 2018 Turkish Science Education Program.

This study aimed to determine the effects of the argument-driven inquiry learning method on students' conceptual learning in science education. The study is conducted with embedded mixed-methods research design from mixed research methods. The study was conducted with 64 7th-grade students consisting of 31 students in the experimental group and 33 students in the control group from a public school in the Aegean Region in Turkey. The unit "electrical energy" was taught using the argument-driven inquiry learning method in the experiment group, and the 2013 science curriculum and activities in the control group. The quantitative data collection tool used in this research was the "Conceptual Learning Test" while the qualitative data collection tools used were daily student reflections, research observation notes. To determine students' conceptual learning, of non-parametric tests, the Wilcoxon Z test was used for within-group comparisons and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare groups. For qualitative data analysis, descriptive analysis and content analysis were used based on the situation. According to the analysis of data, a significant difference in favor of the experiment group was observed in students' conceptual learning. The reason for the positive change in experiment group students' conceptual understanding was that the method presents an opportunity for students to explore information (the conceptual relationships by exploring the effects of the variables within the cases), discuss information within the group and out-group peers, and structurize. In conclusion, the current study might contribute to using the argument-driven inquiry learning method in a science course to literature and shed light on new studies.

It was aimed to investigate the effect of teacher candidates' self-efficacy towards science teaching and technological pedagogical content knowledge on their self-confidence. In this study, pre-experimental design method was used. Thirty prospective science teachers from different universities participated. The trainings were given by faculty members and continued for eight days. Two different scales were used as data collection tools. While there was no significant difference in self efficacy towards science teaching scores of prospective science teachers of contemporary approaches education, there was a significant difference in TPACK self confidence in favor of post-test. It is considered that more importance should be given to the integration of technology during university education.

This study aimed to present a module related to the use of concept cartoons integrated into problem-based learning (PBL) method in science lessons. As part of the study, concept cartoons were developed based on scenarios dealing with daily life situations. A module was designed using these concept cartoons. The module focused on the topic "heat insulation" under the unit "matter and heat" in the 6th grade science curriculum and was implemented in 9 different classrooms at 9 different schools. Semi-structured interview technique was used to learn the students' (n=27) views about the module. The students explained that they learned the subject of heat insulation in a meaningful way, remembered their previous knowledge through the activities, could associate the science topics with daily life more easily, and that their interest in the lesson increased.

This study reports on the implementation of an activity that used argument-driven inquiry methods and its effects on students' learning. "Let's Examine the Serial Circuits" activity on the "Electricity Energy" unit was developed and implemented in a science lesson with the participation of 32 seventh grade students. As a result of participating in the activity, the students comprehended that the brightness of a lamp depends on the total resistance of the circuit and the current flowing through the lamp when the voltage is constant in series connected circuits. Also, the students improved their teamwork and communication skills. As a result of this study, we suggest (1) applying the argument-driven inquiry method to teach the other science units and examining the effects on student learning (2) determining the effects of the argument-driven inquiry method on the acquisition of other skills important in 21st century such as creativity and innovativation.

Problem based learning, in which events from daily life are presented as interesting scenarios, is one of the active learning approaches that encourages students to self-direct learning. Problem based learning, generally used in higher education, requires students to use high end thinking skills in learning environments. In order to use effectively for secondary students, concept cartoons can be integrated to problem based learning environment. Concept cartoons provide alternative views and help students at problem solving stage. So, in this study the effects of concept cartoons and problem based learning on students' inquiry learning skill perceptions and levels of relating knowledge with daily life were examined. Two experiment groups and one control group were formed and pre test-post test control group quasi experimental design was used in this research. During four weeks experimental practice, courses were continued with concept cartoon integrated problem based learning in experiment group 1 while only problem based learning was used in experiment group 2 and science program activities was used in control group. 553 sixth grade students (13-14 age group) from 9 different middle schools in Turkey participated in this study. Inquiry learning skills perception scale and knowledge-daily life relating open ended questions were used as data collection tools. In the result of the data analysis, it was found that students' inquiry learning skill perceptions scores differ significantly in favor of experiment groups. However, no significant difference found between groups in terms of knowledge-daily life relation scores.

The study aims to investigate the effects of using mind maps and concept maps on students' learning of concepts in science courses. A total of 51 students participated in this study which used a quasi-experimental research design with pre-test/post-test control groups. The constructivist-inspired study was carried out in the sixth-grade science course unit of "Light and Sound" in a primary school with two experimental groups and one control group. The intervention was held in the experimental group 1 by using technology-assisted technique of mind mapping, in the experimental group 2 by using technology-assisted technique of concept mapping, and in the control group by means of traditional classroom instruction. After the intervention in the experimental groups, concept tests and open-ended questions related to the unit were used as post-tests. According to the data obtained from concept tests, it was found out that all groups' understanding of concepts was equivalent. Significantly, students in the experimental group 2 reported positive opinions, stating that learning through concept maps was useful and engaging.

This study aims at identifying the effects of the mind-mapping technique upon students' perceptions of inquiry-learning skills, academic achievement, and retention of knowledge. The study was carried out in the Science and Technology course. A quasi-experimental research design with a pre-test and post-test control group, which was selected from seventh graders, was used in this study. Sixty-four seventh graders participated in this study during the 2010-2011 academic year in Izmir, Turkey. The result of the study shows that there is a significant difference in favour of the experimental group over the control group regarding the academic achievement, scores of retention of learning, and perception of inquiry-learning skill scores, both on cognitive and affective levels.