Middle School Students' Project Competition Experiences: The Case of Teknofest

Abstract

Scientific and technological competencies play a crucial role in developing 21st-century skills and fostering sustainable development. The enhancement of students’ scientific and technological competencies depends not only on in-school activities but also on extracurricular activities, such as science project competitions. In this context, this study aims to comprehensively examine the project competition experiences of middle school students who participated in the Teknofest Aerospace and Technology Festival. The study, conducted using a phenomenological approach within qualitative research, included 13 students from a middle school in a metropolitan district of the Marmara Region. Data were collected through semi-structured focus group interviews and analyzed using content analysis. The findings indicate that students’ motivations for participating in the competition were primarily driven by a desire to contribute to humanity, develop innovative products, and challenge themselves. Although students encountered difficulties during various stages of project development -such as production, design, and report writing- they reported overcoming these challenges with the support of their teachers, families, and peers. The results reveal that engaging in science project competitions positively impacts students’ cognitive, affective, and social skills. Participation contributes to the development of problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration competencies, while also fostering future involvement in scientific endeavors. In light of these findings, it is recommended that the scope of project competitions be expanded, technical and financial support mechanisms be strengthened, and training on both competition processes and project development be made more widely available to help students sustain their motivation and minimize the challenges they face.

Keywords

• Middle school students
• student experiences
• project competitions
• Teknofest

Ortaokul Öğrencilerinin Proje Yarışması Deneyimleri: Teknofest Örneği

Abstract

Bilimsel ve teknolojik yetkinlikler, 21. yüzyıl becerilerinin geliştirilmesinde ve sürdürülebilir kalkınmada önemli bir role sahiptir. Öğrencilerin bilimsel ve teknolojik yetkinliklerinin geliştirilmesi, okuldaki etkinliklerin yanı sıra okul dışı zamanlarda gerçekleştirilen etkinliklere de bağlıdır. Bu etkinliklerden birisi de bilimsel içerikli proje yarışmalarıdır. Bu doğrultuda araştırmada, Teknofest Havacılık, Uzay ve Teknoloji Festivali’ne katılan ortaokul öğrencilerinin proje yarışması deneyimlerinin kapsamlı bir şekilde incelenmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden fenomenolojik yaklaşım temelinde yürütülen bu araştırmanın çalışma grubunda, Marmara Bölgesi’ndeki bir büyükşehrin ilçe merkezinde bulunan bir ortaokuldaki 13 öğrenci yer almaktadır. Araştırmanın verileri yarı yapılandırılmış odak grup görüşmeleriyle elde edilmiş olup, içerik analizi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular, öğrencilerin proje yarışmasına katılım motivasyonlarında insanlığa faydalı olma, yenilikçi ürün geliştirme ve kendilerini deneme isteğinin ön plana çıktığını göstermektedir. Öğrenciler, proje geliştirme aşamasında üretim, tasarım ve rapor yazımı gibi çeşitli süreçlerde güçlüklerle karşılaşsalar da, bu güçlükleri öğretmenlerinden, ailelerinden ve akranlarından aldıkları destekle aştıklarını belirtmişlerdir. Araştırma sonuçları bilimsel içerikli proje yarışmalarına dair sürecin öğrencilerin bilişsel, duyuşsal ve sosyal becerilerini olumlu yönde etkilediğini, problem çözme, yaratıcılık ve iş birliği yetkinliklerini geliştirmelerine ve gelecekteki bilimsel çalışmalara katılımlarına katkı sağladığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bu sonuçlar ışığında, öğrencilerin katılım motivasyonlarını sürdürmeleri ve karşılaşılan güçlüklerin en aza indirilmesi adına, proje yarışmalarının kapsamının genişletilmesi, teknik ve finansal destek mekanizmalarının güçlendirilmesi ve gerek yarışma gerekse proje geliştirme süreciyle ilgili eğitimlerin yaygınlaştırılması önerilmektedir.

Keywords

• Ortaokul öğrencileri
• öğrenci deneyimleri
• proje yarışmaları
• Teknofest

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