The Effect of Intelligence Games on 6th and 7th Grade Students' Critical Thinking Skills, and Student Opinions on Their Science Course Achievement

Year 2024, Volume: 11 Issue: 4, 753 - 766, 31.12.2024

Aslı Vural , Arzu Önel

https://doi.org/10.30900/kafkasegt.1328591

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the critical thinking abilities of sixth and seventh grade
students who participated in an intelligence games course as well as their perceptions of their
performance in a science course. The sample of the study consisted of 16 students at 6th and 7th grade
level studying in Ardahan. A mixed research model using quantitative and qualitative data was preferred
in the study. In order to collect quantitative data, a single-group pre-test, post-test experimental design
was used, and the critical thinking skills test and demographic characteristics form were used as scales.
For qualitative data, a case study was conducted and a semi-structured interview form was applied.
Critical thinking skills test data were analyzed by dependent sample t-test and the effect of father and
mother education level on critical thinking skills was analyzed by ANOVA test. The semi-structured
interview form was analyzed by content analysis. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the study was
conducted as a "Live Lesson" over the Education Information Network (EBA) for 10 weeks as 1 class
hour per week. For the activities in the course, the book "Teaching Material for Teachers of Secondary
and Imam Hatip Secondary Schools Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8" and smart device applications of strategy
games were used. As a result of the research, A small change in favor of the post-test was detected
between the pre-test and post-test averages of the critical thinking skills test. Additionally, there was no
correlation between the students' critical thinking abilities and their parents' educational levels among
those who took the intelligence games course (p>0.05). The students claimed that intelligence games
would benefit the science course in their interviews and that they enjoyed the intelligence games course.
They also claimed that playing intelligence games helped them develop their cognitive abilities,
including attention and memory.

Keywords

Intelligence games, critical thinking, science, middle school students, mixed design

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