@article{article_601015, title={Effects of Using the Scratch Program in 6th Grade Information Technologies Courses on Algorithm Development and Problem Solving Skills}, journal={Participatory Educational Research}, volume={2}, pages={10–20}, year={2015}, DOI={10.17275/per.15.spi.2.2}, author={Oluk, Ali and Saltan, Fatih}, keywords={Scratch,programming education,problem solving skill,visual programming}, abstract={<p class="Abstract" style="margin:0cm 1cm .0001pt 36pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:’Times New Roman’, serif;text-align:justify;"> <span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:32px;" xml:lang="en-us">This study aimed to identify the effects of using the scratch program in 6 <sup>th </sup>grade information technologies courses on algorithm development and problem solving skills. The study utilized pretest – posttest control group experimental design. A total of 65 (34 control, 31 experimental) 6 <sup>th </sup>grade students in a secondary school in Taşköprü District of Kastamonu Province participated in the study. The study was designed quasi-experimentally. Algorithm Development Test and Problem Solving Inventory developed by Serin et. al. for primary grade students were used as pre and post tests.   </span> <span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:32px;" xml:lang="en-us">Algorithm Development Test: Students were asked four open-ended questions to test their algorithm development skills. The questions aimed to identify skills related to algorithm development, flowchart development, explaining a given algorithm and detecting errors in a given algorithm. A researcher, an information technologies teacher and an instructor undertake the assessment of the Algorithm development test. The Algorithm Development Test score was obtained by taking the average of the three scores.  </span> <span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:32px;" xml:lang="en-us">Control group students learned algorithm as presented in the curriculum whereas control group students learned algorithm with the help of the scratch program.  </span> <span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:32px;" xml:lang="en-us">Implementation classes received 2-hour Information Technologies instruction per week. The implementation period covered a 6-week process. </span> <span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:32px;" xml:lang="en-us">Results showed no significant differences between the control and experimental groups in terms of algorithm development skills and problem solving skills </span> <span style="font-family:’-webkit-standard’;font-size:medium;"> </span> <br /> <br /> </p> <span style="font-family:’-webkit-standard’;font-size:medium;"> </span>}, number={5}, publisher={Özgen KORKMAZ}