EVALUATION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE 5TH GRADE TEXTBOOK BY THE STUDENTS Akdoğan Dr. Fazıl Küçük PREPARED BY: CLASS 5

START OF THE PROJECT: First of all, Akdoğan Dr. Fazıl Küçük Primary School 5th grade students were informed about the project. 10 students were chosen from the volunteers. Then the topic was decided. The students decided on the topic and the questions in co-operation with their teacher. Basic rules during the implementation of the project were established.

WHAT IS OUR TOPIC? 5th GRADE SOCIAL SCIENCE TEXTBOOK It’s effect on student class participation It’s effect on students’ studying habits Students’ views of the textbook

OUR AIMS AND ACHIEVMENTS 1- Students of the research team got the opportunity to learn about a subject they do not know much. 2- Students who took part in the reseach started to think about the textbook they use. 3-Teachers will have the opportunity to learn if the students like the textbook, when they use it and what kind of activities they should offer to engage the students in regards to the research findings. 4- This research reflects the views of the students on the textbook recently produced by the Textbook Commission.

METHODOLOGY We learn the basic rules for the implementation of the project such as: I- Informing the research participants about the research topic and the questions. 2- We asked voluntary consent of the students for conducting the interviews and distributing the questionnaire. 3- We listened to the participants with respect. 4- While asking the questions we did not judge the participants’ for their responses. 5- Interiewers did not express their opinions. 6- Confidentiality was maintained.

A) Qualitative Method First, 10 students in the research team, who recieved training on the project, learned how to use a tape recorder. Then, we divided the group into two and interviewed each other. Afterwards, we interviewed 10 students among our friends who volenteered to take part. The participants have different levels of success at school.

The interviews lasted from 5 to 8 minutes. After the interviews we transcribed them with the help of our teacher. We organized the results on our computers by ourselves. The interview results were put in a table. We grouped the respones within the table. We counted the answers for each question to reach our conclusions. Sample Question: When do you use the textbook?

B) Quantitative Method After we completed the interviews, based on the responses we prepared the questions for the questionnaire. We distributed this questionnaire to 20 students in the 5th grade. We asked them 8 questions with 4 choices for each. We calculated the answers, put them in a SPSS system and drew tables.Then, we evaluated the tables to reach our conclusions. Look at the example: Which aspect of the textbook increase your class participation the most?

BASIC INFORMATION GATHERED FROM BOTH METHODS RESULTS OF THE QUANTITATIVE METHOD % of the students like the textbook a lot. 80% like it. %I0 of the students like the textbook in general but they point out some parts they dislike. We can say that most of the students like the textbook from this result. 2- Textbook exercises, pictures and maps are the most favorite parts of the textbook. 3- According to the results of this study some figures, questions and particular subjects are disliked by some students.

4- The results show us that students use the textbook during the lesson together with their teachers. Half of the students regularly use the textbook while studying and the other half use it sometimes. They use particularly their notebook as a source. Most of the students use the textbook for doing homework. The textbook is used the least before the lesson. 5- Questions, pictures and class activities increase students’ participation the most. 6- All students like the textbook despite the fact they criticize some aspects of it. 90% said it positively affects their studying habits. However, I0 % expressed that even though they do not like the textbook this does not have any effect on their studying habits because they use their notebook.

RESULTS OF THE QUALITATIVE METHOD 1-For most students the statements in the textbook are short and easy to understand. Yet, there are few students who think the statements in general are difficult and long. 2- While studying the social science lesson 65% of the students use the textbook. 25% use the notebook the most. I0% of the students use magazines and encyclopedias related to the subject. We can say that most of the students use the textbook for studying. 3-Research and project activities are most liked by the students. The least liked one is explanation of the topics with stories.

CONCLUSION We took part in an important activity. Both the results of the questionnaire and the interviews showed us most of the students like the textbook. This increases their class participation. This shows that the textbook is in general succcessful. The results will provide a feedback to the Textbook Commission and the Ministry of Education. However, the parts disliked by the students should be taken into consideration. With the help of a more detailed questionnaire this can be found out for improving the textbook. The results show us that teachers use the textbook as the basic material in class.

Findings of this research give the teachers an idea what they can do to increase students’ class participation. By taking part in this research we learnt about all steps of doing a research. We developed our self-confidence. We experienced the joy of working together. We improved our sense of responsibility. We thank everybody. We hope that such projects will continue in the future.