Teachers’ views on realization level of learning attainments of free activities course

Bu çalışmanın amacı, serbest etkinlikler dersi kazanımlarının gerçekleşme düzeyine ilişkin 4 ve 5. sınıf öğretmenlerinin görüşlerini belirlemektir. Veriler, araştırmacılar tarafından geliştirilen 28 maddelik beşli Likert tipi bir ölçek aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Araştırmanın evrenini Mardin il merkezindeki 28 İlköğretim Okulu oluşturmaktadır. Bu okullardaki 4 ve 5. sınıf öğretmenlerinin sayısı 137’dir. Araştırma ölçeği bütün öğretmenlere dağıtılmış, ancak 104 öğretmenden geri dönüşüm olmuştur. Bunlardan 86’sı değerlendirmeye alınmıştır. Verilerin çözümlenmesinde aritmetik ortalama, standart sapma, bağımsız örneklem t testi ile tek yönlü varyans analizi kullanılmıştır. Anlamlılık düzeyi 0,05 olarak alınmıştır. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, serbest etkinlikler dersi kazanımlarının gerçekleşme düzeyine ilişkin öğretmenlerin görüşleri arasında cinsiyet değişkeni açısından anlamlı fark tespit edilmiştir. Öğretmenler, serbest etkinlikler dersi kazanımlarının gerçekleşme düzeyine ilişkin olumlu görüş belirtmişlerdir. Öğretmenlerin serbest etkinlikler dersi kazanımlarının gerçekleşme düzeyine ilişkin görüşleri çok ve tamamen düzeyinde kabul ettikleri belirlenmiştir. Etkinliklerin seçiminde ve uygulanmasında öğrencilerin sosyo-ekonomik durumları dikkat alınmalı, gerekli araç-gereçler sağlanmalı ve ailelerle işbirliği yapılmalıdır.The aim of this study is to determine 4th and 5th grade Classroom teachers’ views on the realization level of learning attainments aimed at Free Activities Course. Data for the study was collected with 28 item five-point Likert style scale that was developed by the researchers. Population of the study included 28 primary schools in Mardin city center. There are totally 4th and 5th grade 137 classroom teachers in these schools. The research survey was handed all the teachers in the sample but 104 teachers delivered the survey. Of these surveys 18 were omitted as they were not filled suitably and 86 surveys were evaluated. Means score, standard deviation, independent samples t test and one way ANOVA were utilized to analyze the data. Results with 0,05 were considered statistically significant. The findings revealed statistically significant differences among teachers’ views on the realization level of the learning attainments of Free Activities Course in terms of gender variable. Teachers emphasized positive views toward the realization level of the learning attainments of Free Activities Course. They accepted the views toward the realization level of the learning attainments of Free Activities Course at much and perfect level. In choosing and implementing free activities, socio-economic status of the students should be taken into consideration, necessary equipment should be provided and there should be cooperation with the families

Effects of common variations of NOS3 and CAV1 genes on hypercholesterolemic profile in coronary heart disease

Caveolin-1 (CAV-1) plays a crucial role in endothelial-nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) enzymatic activity. Therefore, CAV-1 and eNOSinteractions have a significant impact on endothelial dysfunction, cholesterol levels, and atherosclerosis. We investigated the critical variations in NOS3 and CAV1 genes in this case–control study to determine the relations between the coronary heart disease(CHD) risk factors. The NOS3-rs1799983, CAV-1 rs3840634, and rs3807990 variations were analyzed in 76 CHD patients and 91controls using the polymerase chain reaction. Mean serum Total-cholesterol levels were significantly higher in CHD patients withthe CAV-1 rs3807990-T allele than in patients with CC genotype (p=0.017). There was a statistically significant correlation betweenthe rs3807990-T allele and hypercholesterolemia in the CHD group (p=0.008). The multivariate analysis confirmed that the CAV-1rs3807990-T allele (p=0.011) is a risk factor for hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, the serum HDL-Cholesterol level was detectedto be higher in patients carrying both CAV1-rs3807990-T and NOS3-rs1799983-T alleles than those with the CAV-1 rs3807990-CC/NOS3-rs1799983-GG genotype subgroup (p=0.013). These results suggested that the genetic variations of CAV-1 rs3807990 andNOS3-rs1799983 may contribute to the increased hypercholesterolemia risk and thus on the development of CHD

The effect of mind-mapping applications on upper primary students’ success and inquiry-learning skills in science and environment education

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. © 2013 Taylor & Francis

Cooperative Learning as a Democratic Learning Method

In this study, the effects of applying the cooperative learning method on the students' attitude toward democracy in an elementary 3rd-grade life studies course was examined. Over the course of 8 weeks, the cooperative learning method was applied with an experimental group, and traditional methods of teaching life studies in 2009, which was still in force, was applied with a control group. A significant and positive difference was found to the benefit of the experimental group, considering the posttest scores of the experimental and control groups on the democratic attitude scale. It was determined that the cooperative learning method has significant effects on the democratic attitude levels of students. With reference to the assumption that it is necessary to impress a consciousness of democracy and democratic values upon individuals from an early age, it has been found that significant gains can be obtained by applying the cooperative learning method in primary schools in terms of building a democratic society