The Impact of Place Based Education Approach on Student Achievement in Social Studies

Abstract

The objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of teaching the 6th grade (12-13 years old) social studies lessons’ unit ‘‘Our Country’s Resources’’ by place based teaching method on student achievement. This research was conducted in 2013-2014 academic year for six weeks in a public secondary school in Milas. In this research, an intervention and a control group were used. The intervention group was taught the unit with the place-based teaching method. The control group was taught the unit by their normal classroom instruction. Both the control and the intervention group student achievement was measured with pre- and post-tests, which were developed by the researcher, in order to examine the student achievement between the two groups. Post and pre-test scores was analysed by using Two-factor ANOVA. According to this analyse findings, the students of the experiment group educated with place based method attained the learning goals significantly higher as compared to the control group students receiving normal classroom instruction. In conclusion it is clear that place based education method more effective for student achievement in social studies education.