The effect of outdoor education on the achievement and recall levels of primary school students in social studies course

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of the implementation of activities based on outdoor education in social studies teaching on students' academic achievement and their level of knowledge recall. In the study, semi-experimental design with pretest-posttest control group was used. The study was conducted with the study group determined by selecting the appropriate sample. The study group for the 2018-2019 academic year was composed of two primary school fourth grade students, one from a public school (n=33) and one from a control group (n=31) in Buca district of Izmir province. During the application process, fourth grade social studies lesson "People, Places and Environments" learning area subjects were covered for 6 weeks with outdoor education activities and outdoor teaching method, social studies lesson curriculum content and activities in control group. As a data collection tool, the "Academic Achievement Test" created by the researcher within the scope of the primary school fourth grade "People, Places and circles" learning area attainments was used as pre-implementation and post-implementation. In addition, the Academic Achievement Test was used as a persistence test to measure students' level of recall of their knowledge 4 weeks after applications were finished. Statistical solutions of the data were made with descriptive statistics, t-test for independent samples, and two-factor ANOVA for mixed measurements. According to the findings, academic success and retention levels of the experiment group students who took outdoor education activities and outdoor education social studies courses were significantly higher than those of the control group students who performed courses according to the curriculum and activities of social studies courses in the classroom environment. As a result, it was determined that the implementation of outdoor educational activities in the teaching of social studies courses increased the success levels of the students and positively affected their level of recall their knowledge.