Teaching Science to Students with Special Needs: The Efficiency of Science Experiments Presented with Tablet Computers

Year 2022, Volume: 23 Issue: 4, 811 - 829, 01.12.2022

Samed Yenioğlu Nevin Güner Yıldız

https://doi.org/10.21565/ozelegitimdergisi.905523

Abstract

Introduction: In parallel with the developments in technology in recent years, the use of technology in special education has been increasing. One of the fields in which significant advantages are achieved through the use of technology is science teaching. Although it is seen that studies on the effects of tablet computers, one of the technological tools used in teaching science subjects to students with special needs, have increased in the literature, more studies are needed. This research aims to examine the effectiveness of science experiments presented with tablet computers in teaching science definitions and factual facts to students with special needs.
Method: A multiple probe design with probe conditions across participants was applied as the research design, which is one of the single-subject research models. The research included instructional sessions, generalization, and maintenance sessions; effectiveness, reliability, and social validity data were collected. Three students with a learning disability who were 11 years old and were receiving inclusive education in general education schools participated in the study.
Findings: It was determined that all students participating in the study acquired the target science definitions and knowledge of factual facts, and they continued these acquisitions three weeks after the intervention was completed. In addition, the participant students were able to generalize these achievements to another teacher and environment. The social validity findings of the study revealed that the students with special needs and teachers, who were the participants of the research, had positive views on science teaching with tablet computers.
Discussion: The findings of the study are consistent with the results of studies in the literature examining the effectiveness of tablet computer use in teaching science to students with special needs. The findings were discussed and compared with similar studies.

Keywords

Science teaching, science experiments, tablet computer, students with special needs, learning disability, inclusion

Özel Gereksinimli Öğrencilere Fen Öğretimi: Tablet Bilgisayarla Sunulan Fen Deneylerinin Etkililiği

Abstract

Giriş: Son yıllarda teknolojide yaşanan gelişmelere paralel olarak özel eğitimde teknoloji kullanımı da artmaktadır. Teknoloji kullanımı sayesinde önemli avantajların elde edildiği alanlardan biri de fen bilimleri öğretimidir. Fen bilimleri konularının özel gereksinimli öğrencilere kazandırılmasında kullanılan teknolojik araçlardan biri olan tablet bilgisayarların etkilerine ilişkin çalışmaların alanyazında arttığı görülse de daha fazla çalışmanın yapılmasına gereksinim duyulmaktadır. Bu araştırma, tablet bilgisayarla sunulan fen deneylerinin, fen tanımlarını ve olgusal gerçeklere ilişkin bilgileri özel gereksinimli öğrencilere öğretmedeki etkililiğini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır.
Yöntem: Araştırma, tek denekli araştırma modellerinden katılımcılar arası yoklama evreli çoklu yoklama modeli kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmada, öğretim, yoklama, genelleme ve izleme oturumlarına yer verilmiş; etkililik, güvenirlik ve sosyal geçerlik verileri toplanmıştır. Araştırmaya 11 yaşında ve genel eğitim okullarında kaynaştırma yoluyla eğitim almakta olan öğrenme güçlüğü tanılı üç öğrenci katılmıştır.
Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan tüm öğrencilerin hedef fen bilimleri tanımlarını ve olgusal gerçeklere ilişkin bilgileri edindikleri ve bu kazanımları müdahale tamamlandıktan üç hafta sonra sürdürdükleri belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca katılımcı öğrenciler bu kazanımları başka bir öğretmene ve çevreye genelleyebilmiştir. Araştırmanın sosyal geçerlik bulguları, araştırmanın katılımcısı olan özel gereksinimli öğrencilerin ve öğretmenlerin, tablet bilgisayarla yapılan fen öğretimine ilişkin olumlu görüşlerinin olduğunu ortaya koymuştur.
Tartışma: Araştırmanın bulguları, alanyazında bulunan ve özel gereksinimli öğrencilere fen bilimleri öğretiminde tablet bilgisayar kullanımının etkililiğini inceleyen araştırmaların sonuçlarıyla tutarlıdır. Elde edilen bulgular benzer araştırmalarla karşılaştırılarak tartışılmıştır.

Keywords

Fen bilimleri öğretimi, fen deneyleri, tablet bilgisayar, özel gereksinimli öğrenci, öğrenme güçlüğü, kaynaştırma

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